Love One Another
1 John 3:16–18 (ESV)
16
By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?
18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
It is easy to say we are not to love the world or the things in the world (from chapter 2). It is easy to say we hate
noone and we love everybody. Words are easy to say. Today, John says to put your money where your mouth is... “if anyone has the world’s goods and see his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love
abide in him?” So if a neighbor needs a shirt, giving him a shirt is easy. But what about a whole wardrobe? If a neighbor needs to see a doctor, it is easy to take him and maybe pay the co-pay... or even a doctor’s visit with
x-ray for maybe $150. What if he needs a $75,000 surgery? What if someone you know has lost his job because of a health problem and they are in financial need just to put food on the table or keep a roof over their head. Suddenly, we can
come up with all kind of excuses. I think of the rich man that asked Jesus what he must do to have eternal life? Jesus said to sell everything and to give to the poor. The rich man walked away dejected, for he had much wealth. Today’s
reading is short, but painful to most.
I pray: O Lord, today’s words are heavy and hard. Help us to realize that all we have is from you anyway, so help us to reach out and help those who
are in need. Help shape me and mold me into your image. Amen.