Gospel-Motivated Caretaking
Knowing Love by Christ's Sacrifice
1 John 3:16-18 teaches us what true love looks like.
By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 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? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
The book of 1 John provides a clear description of what it means to be a Christian—not just claiming to be one, but demonstrating it. It helps us examine our lives: Am I really saved? John paints a black-and-white picture. Christians walk in the light, their deeds visible and accountable to others. They confess sins freely because Jesus has forgiven them.
Obvious Children of God
Starting in verse 10, John says it's evident who are the children of God and who are the children of the devil. There is no third group. Whoever does not practice righteousness or love their brother is not God's child.
John examines Cain and Abel: Cain, being wicked, murdered righteous Abel out of jealousy. As Christians live righteously, the world hates us because our deeds expose their sin. Jesus promised this: Don't be surprised that the world hates you.
Light has come into the world, but people loved the darkness because their deeds were evil.
John 3
True Christians embrace exposure because of God's forgiveness. As Paul says,
If God is for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8
The world hates this and demands our approval of their sin. Christians cannot give it, so the world hates us. But Christians love—even enemies—and especially brothers in Christ.
Demonstrating Love for God's People
A real Christian goes beyond words to actions. The author of Hebrews notes that genuine believers love God's people. If someone claims to love God and God's people but does nothing—especially in the local church—John says they are not saved.
Consider marriage: If I told my wife I love her but never provided for her or spent time with her—seeing her only on holidays like Christmas and Easter—would anyone believe it? No demonstration means no reality. My wife would rightly confront me, and words alone wouldn't suffice.
Similarly, saying "I love you" to needy brothers while doing nothing reveals a closed heart. If you have the world's goods—food, shelter, clothing—and see a brother in need, love compels you to help. It's a knee-jerk reaction for the saved.
Faith Shown in Works
James echoes this:
Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
James 2
James cites Abraham, who believed God in Genesis 15 and demonstrated it 30 years later in Genesis 22 by offering Isaac, trusting God to raise him. Faith without works is dead.
James also says: If a poorly clothed, starving brother comes in, and you say, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving what they need—that's dead faith.
God saw our desperate need—like abandoned babies in Ezekiel 16—and provided salvation. Jesus laid down his life:
Though he was in the form of God, [he] did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant.
Philippians 2
Jesus endured our hell on the cross so we could have his heaven.
Gospel Motivation, Not Legalism
John isn't promoting legalism. The motivation is Christ's sacrifice: Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. Because Jesus did this for us, we lay down our lives for brothers—sharing worldly goods in their need.
If you see a brother's need and close your heart, how does God's love abide in you? Awareness matters: Get plugged into church relationships so needs become known. But knowingly refusing reveals a heart issue.
Dwell on Christ's work: He saved you from wrath, sin's ruin, into eternal joy with God. Eternal life far outweighs temporary goods. Hold lightly to food, clothes, shelter—they're shareable.
The Wilderness Lesson
Israel, freed from 400 years of slavery, plundered Egypt's goods but grumbled in the wilderness. They craved Egypt's food over God's presence and manna. They even made a golden calf and wanted to kill Moses.
What made the wilderness worthwhile? God's presence—the living God among them. If they grasped that, worldly comforts paled.
So it is with us: Salvation gives an unfading, eternal inheritance. Giving cash or aid to a needy brother is insignificant compared to our wealth in Christ. Jesus' burden is light; the gospel empowers obedience.
Love in Deed and Truth
Don't love in word or talk, but in deed and truth. Invest in your local church. Build relationships. Needs will surface. Thinking of Christ's sacrifice, meet them. It's easy—God empowers and motivates it. Enjoy him and his commands.
