What Does Love Got To Do With It?

Mike Hosey, An Elder

The bible is a book of action. Rarely does it introduce a concept and not follow up that concept without its application in the form of some kind of real action. Just consider God’s first creative moments. In Genesis 1:3, God said, “let there be light,” and there was light. His words had real evidence behind their utterance. The bible famously declares in Isaiah 55:11 that the words of God shall not return to him void, but that they will accomplish his purpose. In other words, when God speaks, things happen. This shows that he means what he says.

James develops this idea more fully. He argues that a person who truly hears the word, acts on what he hears (James 1:22-25). He takes this a bit further in James 2:14-17 where he strongly states that a person who says he has faith, but then doesn’t do anything with that faith, is a person who has a defunct faith, or no faith at all. Faith, without works, he says, is dead. True faith always produces behavioral results.

Love, like faith, is measured in deeds and not words. Therefore, real love also produces behavioral results. If it doesn’t then it isn’t love. John presents this idea in no uncertain terms. In 1 John 3:16-18 he shares that the reason we know love is because Jesus laid down his life for our spiritual well being. The actions of Jesus demonstrated his love. He drives even harder, and tells us that we ought to lay down our own lives for the people who belong to our faith community. In other words, we are to show our love in the same ways that Jesus did. He then asks how can the love of God be in us if we aren’t willing to commit to the well being of those brothers and sisters around us. Finally, he sums it up by encouraging us to love in deeds and in truth, and not just with words (1 John 3:18).

Words without actions are just words. Faith without works is dead. And love that doesn’t produce sacrificial deeds isn’t love. Your love and your beliefs should produce behavioral results. And those behavioral results should be evidenced most in your families and in your faith communities. If they don’t, go to God and ask him what’s missing in your walk.