The 1967 single “All you need is love,” was written by John Lennon and made famous by the Beatles. It contained the lyrics, “All you need is love, all you need is love, all you need is love, love – love is all you need.”
But that’s not really true, is it? Some believe that love means ‘I get what I want,’ or ‘you please me in some way,’ or ‘you make me happy.’ But this is a definition based on selfish desires.
We DO need love, true love, which has been well defined in the most reliable of texts. But we also need sustenance, shelter, sleep and rest, relationships, purpose, and hope (not wishful thinking, but confident certainty).
A beautiful definition of the word ‘love,’ written and passed down through the generations reads:
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
True love is other-focused.
What we really need is God! HE meets our need for:
Love: He IS Love, and He demonstrated His love – 1 John 4:8-10, 16; Exodus 34:6; Romans 8:38-39; John 3:16
Sustenance: He Is the Bread of Life and the Source of living water – John 6:35; Matthew 6:25-34; John 4:10-13.
Shelter: He is our Shelter and our Refuge – Psalm 91:1-2; Revelation 7:14-16; Psalm 62:8; Psalm 16:1; Psalm 46:1; Nahum 1:7; Ruth 2:12, 2 Samuel 22:3, 31.
Sleep and Rest: He gives sleep and rest – Psalm 127:2; Matthew 11:28-29; Psalm 3:5, Psalm 4:8
Relationship: He adopts us as members of His family – 1 John 3:1; John 1:12; Romans 8:17; Ephesians 1:1-7; John 15:4-5
Purpose: He prepared work for us to do – Ephesians 2:10; 1 Corinthians 15:58; 2 Corinthians 8:11; Ephesians 4:11-12; Mathew 5:16; 1 Chronicles 16:9; 1 Peter 2:9; Psalm 78:4 – and He enables us to do it! Philippians 4:13
Hope: He is the God of hope and the Source of hope – Romans 15:13; Psalm 71:5; lamentations 3:20-21; 2 Thessalonians 2:16; 1 Timothy 1:1-2
So… Love? Yes love. But not as the world speaks of love, rather the love demonstrated by God whose very character is love, and who, because of His love, provides everything we need if we will love, accept, and obey Him. When we come to Him on His terms, we find soul satisfaction, meaning, and purpose for our lives.
Happy Valentine’s Day
Ruth
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13
Reaching, Encouraging, Connecting 