'Love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is Love.' 1 John 4:7-8
Modern society especially its entertainment industry has a fixation on love. It is a theme that draws and tugs at the heartstrings of young lovers. For a brief moment in life they can revel in its romance.
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All You Need Is Love expresses with very simple lyrics, the celebration of love.
Love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love, love
There's nothing you can do that can't be done
Nothing you can sing that can't be sung
Nothing you can say, but you can learn how to play the game
It's easy
Nothing you can make that can't be made
No one you can save that can't be saved
Nothing you can do, but you can learn how to be you in time
It's easy
All you need is love
All you need is love
All you need is love, love
Love is all you need
There's nothing you can know that isn't known
Nothing you can see that isn't shown
There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be
It's easy
It did not last. By the end of that summer many participants left the scene, resumed school studies, got jobs and started on their careers. The realities of having to make a livelihood forced them to abandon these feelings of love in order to face the uncertain future. Like the hippies in the 1960s, many young lovers will soon realise that romantic love can be fleeting.
But, the need to love and be loved remains. This song by Burt Bacharach and Hal David What the World Needs Now is Love Sweet Love emphatically states this reality.
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.
Lord, we don't need another mountain
There are mountains and hillsides enough to climb
There are oceans and rivers enough to cross
Enough to last till the end of time
Lord we don't need another meadow
There are cornfield and wheatfields enough to grow
There are sunbeams and moonbeams enough to shine
Oh listen Lord, if you want to know
Comparing these two songs, one should notice that the second recognises God and realises there isn't enough of this kind of love - 'the only thing that there's just too little of.'
In his sermon at Aldersgate Convention Singapore on 22 May 2021, Bishop Gordon Wong brought this love of God to our attention. Speaking on the passage of the love of God in 1 John Chap 4, Bishop Wong (and the apostle John) made a few points that are worth repeating
- Love with the Love of God. In asking us to love one another, the reason is presented that love comes from God. If we do not love we actually do not know God either, for God is Love (1 John 4:7,8). To love somebody, we rely on the love God has for us (1 John 4:16)
- Love God by loving others. John states that Jesus Christ has given us a command, anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. Put in a negative way, anyone who does not love their brother or sister whom they have seen cannot love God, whom they have not seen. (1 John 4:20,21)
- Love without fear. This means we should love unreservedly. We need not fear of loving too much or giving too much or have a fear of being made used of when we love someone. There is no need to fear in giving love. (1 John 4:18)
Elizabeth Barrett Browning understood this perfect love as she expresses her love to her husband in Sonnet 43 How Do I Love Thee?. She moved from romantic love to spiritual love. She posited that true love is everlasting, all-encompassing, surpassing time, space and death.
Elizabeth's love is Agape Love, Christian Love. The Love of God starts a relationship of love in every Christian and connects us to an everlasting community of love not just for one brief summer of love.
Lionel
