What the World Needs

The theme of love always surfaces as Valentine’s Day approaches. In fact throughout the year there are calls for love, and yet it seems that what the world has a shortage of is love.

Dionne Warwick sang the song that has these words:

"What the world needs now, is love, sweet love,

It's the only thing that there's just too little of.

What the world needs now, is love, sweet love,

No, not just for some but for everyone."

The message of the Bible stresses the importance of love. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13 that the most excellent way of living is to love. He states "without love, I am nothing" (1 Corinthians 13:2). He continues by saying “no matter what I do, if I do not love, it profits me nothing,” (1 Corinthians 13:3). Finally Paul writes “Now abides these three: faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13).

When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment in the law, the Lord responded with these words:

Matthew 22:37-40 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Jesus’ words are so insightful. He said we are to love the Lord supremely and then love our neighbor as ourself.

It is so important we grasp the truth of what Jesus declares. The love the Bible speaks of is a super natural love that the Lord must develop within us. He does this only when we love Him supremely. In fact, Paul underscores that the fruit that the Spirit of God produces in the person yielded to the Lordship of Christ begins with love, Galatians 5:22.

Man’s ability to love on his own falls far short of the quality of love the Lord can produce in a persons life.

1. The love of God is extended to everyone. The love produced by sinful mankind is not. Man’s love is given to a few.

2. God’s love motivates man to work in the best interest of others. The love man gives when apart from Christ causes him or her to work for what will benefit them with no real concern for others. This is why in a world where we are told to love there is still so many evidences that love is absent.

As we approach Valentine’s Day, it would be a great time for us to yield ourselves to the Lord Jesus asking Him to empower us with the ability to love as He does. Think of the difference this would make in our families, churches, communities and world. God’s greatest gift to us was the giving of His Son, the Lord Jesus. It was love that motivated Him to provide the world a Savior.

The greatest gift we can give to others is to love them as the Lord does.

Bob