Why True Compassion Means More Than Words
When we read 1 John 3:17, it’s like holding up a mirror to our hearts. The verse asks, “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?” In simple terms, it’s saying that if you have enough to live comfortably—food, clothes, shelter—and you know someone who’s struggling, but you choose to look the other way, it’s hard to claim that God’s love lives in you.
Practical Love: Putting Faith Into Action
This verse isn’t just about feeling sorry for someone. It’s about doing something. Having “the world’s goods”—money, possessions, resources—comes with a responsibility. It’s not enough to say “I care” or “I’ll pray for you.” God calls us to help, to share, to act. The real test of our faith is whether we’re willing to make sacrifices, even small ones, to ease someone else’s suffering. If we can’t do that, it calls into question whether we truly understand or have accepted God’s love.
Compassion: More Than Just Pity
True compassion is more than just feeling bad for someone. It’s about letting that feeling move us to help. The Bible often uses words like “bowels of compassion” to describe deep, gut-level empathy—the kind that makes us want to reach out. If we shut off that feeling, if we ignore someone’s need, we’re not just missing a chance to help; we’re showing that something is missing in our own hearts. It’s a sign that God’s love may not be as real in us as we think.
Love Is More Than Words
1 John 3:17 is often paired with the next verse, which says, “Let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” This makes it clear: love isn’t just something you say. It’s something you do. Actions speak louder than words, especially when it comes to caring for others. It’s easy to talk about love, but the challenge is to show it—through giving, serving, and sacrificing for those in need.
The Mystery of Divine Love
Think about the miracle of God’s love—the fact that God would redeem us, even at great cost. If God loved us so much that He gave everything for us, how can we not show love to others? When we’re selfish, the Holy Spirit is saddened, and we lose the comfort and joy that comes from God’s presence. If we consistently choose our own comfort over helping others, it weakens our connection to God and makes us question whether we’ve really been changed by His love.
Listening to Your Conscience
Our conscience is that quiet voice inside that nudges us toward what’s right. If we ignore someone’s need, our conscience knows it—even if we try to pretend otherwise. The Bible says that if our conscience condemns us for known sin or neglecting our duty, God sees it too. That’s why we need to listen to our conscience, let it guide us, and act on it.
What Does Real Love Look Like?
At its core, 1 John 3:17 is a wake-up call. Real love isn’t just about saying nice things or feeling warm inside—it’s about rolling up our sleeves and helping those who are struggling. Whether someone needs food, shelter, or just a listening ear, love means stepping in and making a difference. That’s how God’s love shows up in us: not through empty words, but through real, everyday acts of kindness and compassion.
Closing Thoughts
As believers, let’s ask ourselves: Are we willing to put our faith into action? Do we let compassion guide us, or do we close our hearts when faced with someone else’s need? God’s love is most real when we share it, not just in words, but in deeds. Let’s aim to live out that love, every day, in simple, practical ways.
Minister A Francine Green
December 2025
afrancinegreen.com 