“We know what real
love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our
lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well
and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion – how can God’s
love be in that person? Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each
other; let us show the truth by our actions”
(1 John 3:16-17,
NLT).
Love is something that is
sung about, talked about, and argued about. There may be disagreement about
what love really is. Different people, different cultures, and different beliefs have different and various definitions for love. But the Apostle John reminds
us that Jesus Himself showed us (not just said) what “love” is really all about. Jesus gave up His life so
that we could have life. “We know what real
love is because Jesus gave up his life for us.” He gave the supreme
sacrifice to show us that love is often quite costly, and He did it willingly
and voluntarily. Jesus said, “I’m a good shepherd.
The good shepherd sacrifices his life for his sheep” (John 10:11); “I sacrifice my life for the sheep” (10:15); “The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it
back again. No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have
the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this
is what my Father has commanded” (10:17-18).
In the same way, Jesus
wants us to be prepared to make our love that costly if it is necessary. “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s
friends” (John 15:13). Love doesn’t mean that we give to others what
is left over or unwanted. It may mean at times that we give the very best we
have. To love is to look after the other person’s good and not just our own.
The Amplified Bible defines love (the Greek word agape) as not so much a matter of emotion as it is of doing things
for the benefit of another person, that is, having an unselfish concern for
another and a willingness to seek the best for another.
To be realistic, few, if
any, of us will ever be called upon to sacrifice our lives for others – unless it
should be in a situation such as war. I salute and respect my brothers and
sisters in Christ in the Middle East, China, India, and places where Christians
are persecuted. They really give up their lives for Christ and others. But as
for us in Malaysia and the rest of the world, John reminds us that love is also
shown in lesser acts than laying down our lives. “If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or
sister in need” we need to show compassion. We can show our love for
God by caring about those around us who have needs. One of the reasons we are
given material things and money is to learn to share them with others, with
those in need. The Apostle James writes, “Suppose you see a
brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, ‘Good-bye and have
a good day; stay warm and eat well’ – but then you don’t give that person any
food or clothing. What good does that do?” (James 2:15-16). Or as
John asked, “How can God’s love be in
that person?”
Notice that first John
uses the plural form and refers to our “brothers and sisters”
– a more general term referring to people, anyone. But then John uses the
singular word “brother or sister.”
Why? I think it seems to mean that we may find it easy to love people in
general, but not so easy to love in a personal or individual way. So, when we see
a brother or sister in need, let us show loving compassion. We may not be able
to help everyone who is in need but we can show compassion to the immediate
needs around us. This is what makes our faith so dynamic, even revolutionary!
We grow in our faith and love as we get beyond just talking about the needs of
others or about the importance of love. “Let’s not merely say
that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.” How much
better it is to be real – to show with our actions that we indeed do love other
people. Jesus never once said directly, “I love you,” but no doubt as we look
and observe His life, we know that He really loves us. This is love.
In a world that has so
much “bad news” about murders, robberies, riots, and hatred, we can be a
dynamic force to show the “Good News” that our God is indeed a God of love. And we grow as God’s children as we learn to
share this love with other people. Amen.
THINK BIG.
START SMALL. GO DEEP.
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