1 John 3:17-18 17But whoever has the world’s resources and sees his brother having a need and closes his compassion from him, how does God’s love dwell in him? 18Little children, let us not love with word or tongue but in deed and truth.
God blesses us with resources so that we can bless others, not for us to hoard them for selfish purposes. The world’s resources refer to that which sustains life (bion). In the modern world, such things of life have become profoundly complex. Most homes, particularly in developed countries, are filled with things that are only occasionally used or used once and either discarded or stored, filling up houses, garages, sheds, and storage rentals with “stuff.” A person does not need to be wealthy to accumulate things of life. John puts no limit on what constitutes these resources but urges his readers not to hoard them for selfish reasons but to use them as expressions of love to others.
Love for others must be expressed in tangible acts; otherwise, it may deteriorate into self-love fueled by pride. Loving only by words is easy. Anyone can say he or she loves another person, but words only go so far. The essence of love is action in some form. Love is not meant to be kept to ourselves. John connects love to compassion. The word compassion (splangchna) refers to the inner parts of the gut or entrails and has a similar sense as the word “heart.” Metaphorically, the word is connected to a deep sense of affection or feeling one has toward others, especially to those in need, pain, or sorrow.
Actions alone do not make a person loving, nor does a sense of good feeling internally constitute love. Feeling and action must go together. The feeling of love internally (compassion) must be expressed externally in deed and truth. A loving heart must be revealed through loving actions. It is not enough to say to someone, “I love you,” and then not show it in some way. The target of loving actions is those in need. What represents a need is not specified, but the implication is that it represents the bare necessities of life. No one in the church should be hungry or lack clothing or shelter. Love is also linked to truth. Honest love is genuine and sincere, not hypocritical or fake. It is love without conditions that sees others with the type of love God shows us.