Living as Children of God:

We Love In Truth

1 John 3:18-24

May 21, 2000

          Today we conclude our series on Living as Children of God. These past Sundays John has been telling us things like: “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.” To everyone who is born of God he says, “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” He also says to us, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” Now, today, he would have us hear again the words, “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”  In other words, John wants our love to be real. Nothing turns off people more than actions that are artificial. People look for what is genuine, real, and authentic.

For example: People like the rustic and authentic nature of old barns that have been converted into exclusive restaurants. They like the strong beams, the thick boards, the tall ceilings, the solid foundations. It seems to give an aura of reality and authenticity. But what about us?

The indictment the world levels at the Christian community is, “You don’t walk the talk.” Perhaps they have a point that we should accept. Just before our text John writes, “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?” (v 17). The point is this: Let’s get real. Let’s walk the talk. Let us love in truth.

          After all, we know what real love is. God demonstrated His love for us in the most real, concrete, and authentic way. He didn’t just talk about it. He didn’t just discuss plans for it. He didn’t just say, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” He went into action. “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us” (v 16). Jesus didn’t just come as so many religious leaders and philosophers to preach a message of love. He practiced what he preached. His suffering was real, not a dramatization. His death was real, not a phantom death as taught by an early Christian heresy called Gnosticism. His love was real for you and me.

          St. Paul observes: “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:7-8). He died for our lovelessness, our selfishness, our lack of compassion, our lack of concrete love for others. God’s agape love was undeserved, unearned, unconditional, and real. It was as real as the fish and bread, with which he fed multitudes; the spit and mud with which he anointed the eyes of the blind man; as real as the thorns, the cross, the nails, and the spear. God showed “the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus” (Eph 2:7).

          Too often, we neglect to show real love. The price for lovelessness runs high. Many children suffer because of neglect? Because mom or dad isn’t around when they need them. Sadly, love withheld leaves victims. The following tragedy from several years ago makes the point in graphic terms.

          Illustration: Eighteen adults were gathered around two tables at a neighborhood party eating ribs. A four-year-old girl appeared. She lived there with her mother and the man who owned the house. She went from one to another, her eyes pleading as she raised her arms in a “Lift-me-up” motion. One after another she was rebuffed or ignored, “Not now, I’m eating.” She came around a second time. Again her hunger for love was met with rebuff and indifference. She disappeared. Suddenly one of the men burst through the group and leaped into the pool. He emerged with the limp body of the little girl. It was too late. Evidently, the little girl had “accidentally” fallen into the pool on another occasion and learned it was an effective way to win instant love and attention. She had used the trick three times before. After her rescue, people had always gathered around to hold and comfort her. Then came the day when 18 adults feasted on barbecued ribs and there was no one to pick her up and show her love. So again, she went to the pool, and jumped in, not for harm, but for love … and she drowned.

          There are so many people waiting and waiting and waiting for love. Do we see their lonely look? Do we take time to give them our time? Do we talk to them? Do we listen to them? Do we help them in their need? Do we show them real love? You see, it is out of Love that God created us. It is for Love that God made us.

          Recent studies indicate how we need to show love and receive love. Life without love is a life lost. That is why God has come to us in a clear demonstration of His Love to make us his children of Love.

          Illustration: An American Health article from 1988, reported a study of 7,000 residents of Alameda County, California. Over a nine year period it was found, that those who were single, had few friends or relatives, and shunned community activities had more than twice the mortality rate of others during the nine years. This was true regardless of race, income, physical activity, or other lifestyle factors. (American health, March 1988, by American Health Partners, condensed in Reader’s Digest, “The Healing Power of Doing Good” [Pleasantville, N.Y., June 1988] 98).

          Opportunities abound to show concrete kindness. At nursing homes, people may never have visitors. Neighbors live alone. Our own relatives may see us only at family reunions. Even here, church members across the aisle may have real, practical needs calling for real, practical love.

          Opportunities abound to share our earthly goods with the poor, precious human beings in need of concrete love. “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?” (v 17). There is a principle involved here. If we have the where-with-all to meet someone’s needs, love meets the need. Jesus said, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded” (Lk 12:48). “Freely you have received, freely give” (Mt 10:8). The capacity of Christians to care for those in need has won the hearts of many. Listen to this quote of a Chicago Tribune article from 1997: “There are records from the year 100 that the church in Rome had 1,500 widows and orphans under its care” (Paul Galloway, quoting Rodney Stark, How Jesus Won the West [Chicago Tribune, March 27, 1997] sec. 5).

          Oh how we struggle with our lack of compassion. “They made their bed. Let them lay in it.” Even in the words of our text it says, “our hearts condemn us.” But thank God it also says, “God is greater than our hearts.” God’s constant love and unfailing compassion remain to move us to “love with actions and truth” (v 18). Christ is the living vine who gives us the life of his Spirit so that we bear the fruit of compassionate love. “This is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them” (vv 23-24).

          Conclusion: God’s love in his Son is real. May our love as his children prove to be real and authentic in our lives (2 Cor 8:8). Amen.