The Test of Our Love - PART 1

The Test of Our Love (I John 3:17-18) - PART 1

I John 3:17-18, “But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”

A sure sign of genuine salvation is a heartfelt love for the brethren. I John 3:16, “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” The test of true Biblical love is identified as a willingness to sacrifice one's own life for his brother. This is in contrast to Cain who hated and slew his brother. As Christians, we are the opposite—we give ourselves for others. Why? Because he laid down his life for us. This is Christianity—God has given to me; now I give to others. Love has compassion and gives to meet the needs of people.

According to John, one way that our love is manifested is in our care of the brethren. I John 3:17, “But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” If a brother is in need, whether it is the need of food, clothes, shelter, or service, and if one has the ability to help but will not do so, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

The bottom line is that if we have no concern for the welfare of God's people, the love of God is missing in us. One who can see a need and shut his heart to it does not have the love of Christ. The person who lives a selfish life has missed the whole point of Christ's sacrifice. II Corinthians 5:15, “And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” The law of love according to the Bible is quite clear. Galatians 6:2, “Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

If we have the bare necessities of life and see a person in need, how can we close our heart against him? How can we shut off feelings for him? How can we keep from helping him and from sharing what we have? If a person does this, how can the love of God dwell within them? The answer is clear: the love of God does not exist within a person who does not help those whom he sees in need. NOTICE: This doesn't mean we should give out money indiscriminately to everyone in need. The Bible instructs us in II Thessalonians 3:10, “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” When people are able and have opportunity to work, but they refuse, we are not to help them. However, when someone is in legitimate need and we habitually have no compassion on him or her, the love of God is not in us. According to the Bible, sin is more than doing something bad or wrong. James 4:17, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”

I John 3:18, “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” According to John, talk is cheap! John was dealing with lip service, as opposed to life service. John got down to words verses deeds. Most Christians can say a few words of comfort. Such words are important at times. However, kind words do not fill hungry stomachs. An unclothed person cannot wear our words. The widow's cold house cannot be heated by words of concern. It will take something tangible to meet the need. Because the love of God is shed abroad in our heart, we act differently towards others. Romans 5:5, “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

A clean heart is wrought by loving in deed and not in word only. To love only those who love us is to love only in theory and in speech. It is not loving like God loved; it is not practicing the love of God. We are admonished not to limit our love to words that we speak, but to genuinely show our love in deed and in truth. Our actions speak much louder than our words. We can talk of loving others and even challenge those around us to love others, but until we actually express our love through action, we have not really loved. We are admonished to show our love through action. Live it out daily as we serve others and care for them. The work of love must also be performed with pure motives. Some may act in the appearance of love, but real love was not the motivating force.

Points to Ponder:
One cannot know love apart from Christ.
I pray the Lord will open our eyes; mine included, and allow us to see others as He sees them.
May our hearts be filled with compassion for those who stand in such desperate need!
Jesus didn't ignore the needs of His day and we must not ignore the needs of ours.

Questions to Consider:
It is probably safe to say that we all possess love, but does our love please the Lord?
Does our love move us to action?
Are we motivated to address the needs of our day?
Are we willing to be the hands, feet, and voice of Jesus within a world that needs Him?

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