What the World Needs Now

 What the World Needs Now

October 25, 2024

Yesterday, we were talking about what is wrong with the world. But what can be done to fix it? Back when I was in high school, there was a popular song, “What the World Need Now”. It was a song with lyrics written by Hal David and music composed by Burt Bacharach. It was first recorded and made popular by Jackie DeShannon in 1965.  The chorus went like this:

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 

Then a couple of years later, in 1967, the Beatles released a song called “All You Need is Love”. It was the era of peace and love with flower children marching in the streets against the war in Vietnam. I remember it well (Then again, maybe not so well. We had a saying, “If you remember the 60’s, you weren’t really there!). But is the kind of love that we were singing about the kind that would save the world? The kind of love that most of us had in mind was characterized more by The Rolling Stones song, “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction”!

No, the kind of love that will save the world is illustrated more by the story in the gospel of John in chapter 13.

John 13:5-17

Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet

5Then He *poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.

…

15 For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

True love is humbling yourself and serving one another. It is not always easy and it never comes at a convenient time, but it shows true love for your brother. There is a lot of strife and animosity in the world caused by selfishness and pride, but the antidote is unselfish love. Such love really is beyond the capability of most of us outside of the love of God and the  power of the Holy Spirit. So really, what the wold needs now… is Jesus! 

So then, let us be an example to the world, living according the the example set by Jesus when he washed the disciples feet. Let us humble ourselves and love our fellow man by serving them. We can bring a little bit of true peace and love to our corner of the world and who knows how far that can spread.