Love’s Tangibility and Responsibility (1 Jn 3:17-18) But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. In verse 16, which we considered in yesterday’s Daily Exhortation, John spoke of the loftiest ideal: giving our life for our brethren. Now, after illustrating what love is by the sacrifice of Jesus and calling the church to follow in His footsteps, he appears to be arguing from the greater to the lesser. For if a person refuses to part ways with his own goods… for his brother’s good, while he is safe and secure, how then would he part with his own life for his brother while he was in danger? Thus, John writes, “whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” When John writes, “this world’s goods”, the Greek word he uses is bion. Its root word is bios and could mean “life”, but in this context, as in others, it means “livelihood” or “physical possessions”. Okay, follow the imagery. There’s someone who has “physical possessions” and this person sees his brother in need of the specific physical possessions he has. What does he do? He “shuts up his heart from him”. The imagery is that of locking up the chamber of the heart as opposed to opening its latches and lavishing its treasures. In view of that situation playing out, John asks, “How does the love of God abide in him?” The anticipated response… it doesn’t. So John exhorts the church: “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. “ (vs.18) It’s as though John is saying, “Let’s not just talk about love, let’s act on it!” Knowing the expected outworking of love helps us to judge our hearts better because we can examine ourselves and say, “If I say I love someone, there ought to be action to back it up.” Within these two verses John shows us a few ways in which we could do that. A couple of those ways we can infer from what the person in John’s illustration didn’t do, and one is more of a general exhortation. Sharing and giving this world’s goods (vs.17) –What we have is meant to be used to honor God and serve others. Love is generous as opposed to selfish. Love seeks to give out rather than accumulate for itself. Therefore, if we see a brother or sister in need, let us be ready and willing to give. Have empathy not apathy (v.17) –We are called to weep with those who weep (Rom 12:15), as well as comfort the faint-hearted and uphold the weak (1 Thes 5:14). As opposed to shutting out hearts we are to have empathy for those who are hurting. And, by God’s grace, that empathy will lead to comforting and upholding. let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth (vs.18) – Think of the story of the Good Samaritan. I’d think the priest and the Levite could have given a good sermon on love, yet they walked right passed the injured man on the road. Who was the one who loved his neighbor? The Samaritan. Why? Because he did something about what he saw. Love was manifested in action. May you be exhorted today to walk in love, not in word and tongue alone, but in deed and in truth.
Posted on: Sat, 10 Aug 2013 19:17:29 +0000
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