“All you need is love.” Isn’t that how the old Beatles song goes? And they were right; that is all you need. And the greatest love of all is Jesus Christ who came here as a man, was murdered, and rose again to give us all the love this world could never provide. Anything we do or are in this world, if it is not encompassed by love, means nothing. Whether we give to the poor, or speak in tongues, prophesy, have all faith, move mountains—all of it is for naught if it is not washed in love. And what is the love that comes from God alone? Persevering, kind, not envious, not flaunting, not arrogant, not rude, not self-seeking, not provoked, does not even think of evil, does not rejoice in evil doings. All these things will pass with time, but love never fails. It is the greatest gift God could ever give us.
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind, love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they shall fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away…And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
