Love is giving oneself

Scripture: 1 John 3:16-18 NKJV

16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

Observations:

v16 We understand love because of the example of Jesus when He gave His life for us so that we can be saved. We are exhorted to do the same by giving our lives for our brothers in Christ.

v17 We can accumulate much of the world's goods but at the end of the day, they won't belong to us; they're God's. Part of our stewardship is to be sensitive to the needs of others around us and to share God's blessings to them. The verse says that this is proof of God's love being present in us.

v18 Talk is cheap. Love is action. There is no explanation simpler than that.

Application:

Think of a brother in Christ who you think might have a need that God has enabled you to provide for--may be physically, emotionally, financially, etc. Pray and ask God to help you be a good steward of your life--your time, treasures and talents.

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for selflessly giving yourself up for me. Thank you for demonstrating for me what it means to love and be loved. Lord, help me to be a good steward of your gifts. Help me to be unselfish with my time, talents and treasures, and to willingly give especially to those who belong to your family. Amen.