I am beginning to think that there is no way to over emphasis the importance of love. For a long time in my Christian life love was something we thought about, read about, and paid lip service to. For most of my Christian life “earnestly contending for the faith” was far more important than some ethereal concept of love. Love was for the liberals, and besides if we get too lovey-dovey we might let some sin slide or some liberal might not be exposed.
Don’t get me wrong, there is a place for contending for the faith, there is a place for exposing false teaching,. These things are not to be taken lightly. Our faith does at times require taking a stand, being separate from the world, and even reproving and rebuking others.
But as we read through the entire word of God the concept of love permeates its pages. Jesus said that the greatest commandment was to love God and love our neighbour. Here Paul lays it out in words so simple that it cannot be missed. Please excuse a parrowphrase with editorial comment. “Don’t owe anyone anything but this – love one another. He who loves has fulfilled the law. Remember all the commandments? They are all summed up with one thing, love one another. Love does no harm to anyone, ANYONE! And in case you missed it the first time, The one who has figured out how to love has fulfilled the entire law.”
It si almost like Paul has laid it out for the most simple of us. Love, love, love. God, after all, is love. Hal David and Burt Bacharach wrote a song several years ago with 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.
Excuse one more liberty please. Might we do well too make a slight adaptation?
What the church needs now
is love, sweet love
it's the only thing
that there's just too little of
What the church needs now
is love, sweet love,
no, not just for some
but for everyone.
No comments:
Post a Comment