If You Got It, Give It

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

1 John 3:16-18 (NIV)

Talk is cheap. An emotion is not an action. I can tell my wife I love and genuinely feel it, but, if I don't act in loving ways, she won't believe me. John gets right to the heart of the issue and says we need to lay down our lives for our brothers. He explains that love is action by helping a brother with a material need. If you got it, give it (to those in need). 

Sometimes I will ask myself this simple but very telling question: What did I do that showed my love to my wife, to my children, or to people I came in contact with? This is not meant to be condemning because we all fall short of the glory of God. Yet, when we see a need, we need to try to meet it. If my wife needs some rest, I can do what needs to be done so she doesn't have to do it. If my children need time, I can give it. If a friend needs help, you can help. 

The deal is that sometimes we just need to stop and look around, listen to what others are saying, watch what they are doing. Meet a need. The difficulty can be our willingness because to give to others may require laying down our lives, giving up a bit of ours.

Father, help us to love as you have loved us. Thank you for your love, laying down your life for us! Help us to lay down our lives for others. Praise be to you in us today!