“TRUTH AND LOVE”

18 “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”

1 John 3:18

Some Christians are passionate about the truth at the expense of love. On the other hand, some believers are fiery about love at the cost of truth. But I say we have to strike a balance between these two.

John addresses his readers as “little children,” from the Greek word “teknion,” a kindly address by teachers to their disciples. He assures them that they are dear to him. He instructs them that they are to demonstrate practical love to one another and not simply satisfy themselves with words of affirmation. Their love for fellow believers proves that they are in the truth (“aletheia,” “the truth as taught in Christianity, truth as a personal experience”). Truth is not just a body of religious doctrines or instructions, but also an experience rooted in God’s grace and deep affection.

Love and truth cannot be separated. God is love (1 John 4:16) and Jesus is the Truth (John 14:6). The purpose of truth is love (1 Timothy 1:5); The goal of love is truth (1 Corinthians 13:6). We have to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15); our love for others should prove that we are in the truth (1 John 3:19). In other words, we can’t say our love is real unless we are in the truth, but we can’t say we are in the truth unless we are motivated by love either.

To say we love someone is one thing; to actually meet their needs is another. Love must be sincere (Romans 12:9) and unadulterated. We don’t say we love people simply because we want them (or ourselves) to feel better.  It’s not difficult to promote “spread the love” in a general sense, but if we’re not careful, it can be no more than an excuse for loving nobody in particular. Yes, loving others is a command, but it doesn’t have to feel like a chore. Let’s not forget that our love for other Christians (and even unbelievers) is only an overflow of our love for God. When we love God, we will naturally have love to share with others. It will not feel rehearsed because it’s authentic.

Our relationship with God directly impacts our relationship with others. When we make our love practical, we have the assurance that we are in the truth because we are living in it. Truth becomes more meaningful when we have a first-hand experience of its reality. In this case, I am talking about a Christian’s love for other Christians.

My friend, it’s not enough to say that you are in the truth. You also are to prove your confession by living in the truth. You can do this by showing your fellow Christians that you care about them and making their lives a little less difficult.

Pursue the Savior today!

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