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
“What the World Needs Now Is Love” is a 1965 popular song with lyrics by Hal David and music composed by Burt Bacharach. First recorded and made popular by Jackie DeShannon. This was the message Young America was hungry for during the unpopular Vietnam War which was fuel for the Free Love movement of the late ‘60’s.
Love has been what America has needed at least since 2001; the problem is hate is taking over.
God is love. America needs God.
With God, His love is invasive, and His commands to love are extreme, from our human perspective. His love is Who He is; every action He takes is motivated and formed on His foundational love. Again, love is Who He is.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
Notice, He loves the world, which includes those who do not love Him by their indifference, and those who are opinionated by hate towards Him; all are His enemies because of rebellion. God loves His enemies, those who are rebellious through sinfulness. He loves them. His love drove Him to a messy, painful rescue attempt ending in His sacrificial death. His love drove Him to die for the world on purpose with purpose, and the purpose . . . love.
Then God, through His example and His Word, moved us-ward to compel us by His love to love as He loved us. His compelling commands are impossible without His fruit of the Spirit moving us to victory by our submission; nonetheless they are commands. As Jesus pointed out in John 15, you are expected to be and do these things, but without Me you can do nothing. No natural love can ever arise to His demands to love. Yes, He has high expectations of His own, but He also makes a way to fulfill.
Some of His tough-love commands are found in the Sermon on the Mount. Here are a few which relate to our being love to others:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?” (Matthew 5:43-47)
Some relationships which began in thoughts and feelings of love eventually end in thoughts of hurt, anger, and often hatred, declaring a status of enemies. I want to say that if friends, co-workers, classmates, neighbors, or family members, can easily damage love on both sides, you never truly had love you had selfish fulfillments of personal needs. When that need ceased to be satisfied, your love was revealed for what it truly was in the beginning . . . empty, selfish at best.
I am not trying to be uncaring. Look at how God defines love and see where my conclusion comes from:
“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.” (I Corinthians 13:4-8)
Love, genuine God-powered love through a submitted believer, never fails. However, sometimes love is not performed on purpose, which for the believer is disobedience.
Once, Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment:
“Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
Yes, “What the World Needs Now Is Love”, but far too many believers are selfishly, emotionally, angrily, and worldly withholding the very thing needed. Perhaps the very reason we cannot in mind and heart love our enemies is because we do not know Love. Paul said, “That I may know Him . . .”
Heavenly Father, You are Good. We need help. Heal us and forgive us. Your Church needs help loving. The world needs help receiving love. May we, Your Church, so love the world that we give of ourselves, as You have modeled for us. May we see the fruit of our obedience in 2022, In Jesus’ Name, Amen!
