1 John 3:17-18<\/p>\n
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?<\/span> Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Love for others must be expressed in tangible acts, otherwise it may deteriorate into self-love conditioned 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 mean to be kept to ourselves. John connects love to the heart in this verse. Actions alone does not mean a person is loving. Heart and love must go together. Loving actions are the proof of a loving heart. A loving heart must be revealed through loving actions.<\/p>\n The target of loving actions are those especially in need. I live in a country with overwhelming physical needs. Every day I see people living day-by-day, hand to mouth, barely enough food. The streets of Manila often have children begging during a stop light or people barely making any money for survival or to feed their families. The issues are very complex, really becoming unsolvable because of the growing population. It is a struggle to know what to do if anything. One could argue that John is referring specifically to other believers in the church, the “brother” of v.17. Also, the word “need” should be defined as well, perhaps for the bare necessities of life. Minimally, there should be no dire needs of people in the church.<\/p>\n Love is also linked to the truth in v. 18. To love in truth sounds like to love sincerely or to love with the truth of Christ or to love with honesty. It is love without conditions, no holes in it, love that sees the wholesome best in a person or situation, with optimism in God’s transforming grace in Christ.<\/p>\n