8/24/25 “Love Actively”

Love Actively

1 John 3:11-24

Back in the late 90’s, I worked for a Sheet Music Publisher in Milwaukee by the name of Hal Leonard Publishing…

They were – and continue to be – the largest publisher of sheet music in the world….

While there, I eventually took on a district sales position, where my job was to call on certain accounts – various music stores – and enter their weekly order into the system.

I inherited a territory of about 8 states from a guy by the name of Dave Yanke, who had recently been promoted to national sales manager…

…and I remember sitting down with Dave before taking on these new accounts…

…he was briefing me on certain retailers that he had called on for many years…their preferences…their habits, etc.

So…when he got around to mentioning Texas…a big Texas-sized grin came across his face…

He said “I really hate to do this to you Andy, but you’re going to have to deal with “The Twins” at Wadler-Kaplan music in Houston…

Now…I had heard of Wadler-Kaplan music because they were one of the largest sheet music retailers in the country…but I wasn’t familiar with… ‘The Twins’

Turns out, “The Twins” were two sisters in their 60’s originally from New York City who had both relocated to Houston…and they were in charge of all the ordering at Wadler-Kaplan.

In Dave’s words, these ladies were the meanest, nastiest, most inconsiderate people you will ever talk to…

…and that was on a good day.

Dave said they reminded him of Statler and Waldorf from the Muppet Show (Remember them?....They were the hecklers in the audience who always shouted insults at the performers…)

(Show Picture of Statler and Waldorf)

Apparently… the twins were like these guys….only 100 times worse.

Dave said the most important thing to remember when dealing with the twins was to never show fear…he said they could small fear a mile away…

…and if they knew you were intimidated by them – they would not respect you – they would chew you up and spit you all the way to Galveston.

Part of me wanted to turn in my resignation right then and there.

To this day, I still remember the first time I picked up the phone to call the twins…hands trembling…lump in my throat.

…I said a quick prayer, and …dialed the number.

Before I could even introduce myself, the voice on the other end of the line said “You’re Late!”….even though I was calling on time…I definitely made sure of that!

The twins would - indeed – prove to be difficult people to deal with.

The first few weeks were the worst.

One of the twins was really irritated that I was slower entering their order on the computer than Dave had been….so her nickname for me became ‘Molasses’….nice, right?

The other twin simply despised my Upper-Midwest accent, so she nicknamed me “Fargo”…she apparently thought I sounded like the people from the movie ‘Fargo’ that was still popular in the late 90’s.

…In fact, I think that particular twin – Bernice – actually thought Fargo was in Wisconsin.

Well, as time went on, I began to get acquainted more and more with the twins and their lives.

I learned that each of them had been married – and divorced – several times.

I learned that they both hated men (…Except for Dave?)

I learned that they had each dealt with alcoholism…

I learned that these women were hurt by life experiences – extremely hurt.

I think, deep down, they assumed that no one would ever truly love them…

So - they made it their mode of operation to pre-emptively attack others in order to assume the role of the dominant aggressor – thereby avoiding any potential pain brought on by anyone else.

Well, as time went on, something interesting happened…

These mean ladies began to mellow.

I would ask about their lives…how their dogs were doing….how their children back in New England were doing (With Dave’s help, I was able to remember their dog’s names ….and their children’s names)

…how their week was going….how the Astros were doing (They both loved baseball)

Then – one day – it happened….One of the twins actually started asking me about my life…about my family…about my job….

My genuine interest in their lives had instilled a desire within them to want to get to know me a bit more as well…

I was ‘Andy’ now….The names ‘Molasses’ and ‘Fargo’ were no longer heard

Half a year of taking their verbal abuse and responding with nothing but care, concern, and love had broken through the cold exoskeleton of self-hate and misery.

…In fact, later that same year, on a corporate trip to Houston…I had the chance to meet the twins in person…and they each actually gave me a hug before I left.

The last thing one of the twins said to me before Ieaving Hal-Leonard and moving back to Baraboo was “We’re gonna miss you, Andy. Don’t get me wrong - You’re no Dave…but you ain’t too bad” ….I took that as a win.

At least to some degree, love was victorious in my association with the twins…but the war for their hearts was far from over.

Satan was not going to stop vying for their souls through his tactical strategy of hate, deception, and manipulation…

…but at least on that day in 1998 in a music store in Houston, TX….love won.

Today’s passage from 1 John chapter 3 deals with love….as well as its opposite – what most people would consider to be ‘hate’.

…and the power that each of these heart positions possess…

….the kingdoms that each of them represent.

I suppose…if you want to be technical about it, biblically speaking….the true opposite of love looks more like apathy – or selfish indifference – than hate.

Let me explain.

As we’ve already learned from John’s earlier writings, love is not some wishy-washy emotion that comes and goes…

…rather, love is a commitment to take action in the pursuit of the well-being of another person.

So…if love is rooted in action…its opposite must be rooted in the absence of action.

Just as active deeds that selflessly promote the well-being of another are manifestations of love…

Apathy, indifference, and unconcern for others are all manifestations of hate.

If I see someone in need…and I have the opportunity and the resources to assist that person….yet I choose not to…

I’ve just jumped headfirst into the waters of apathy and selfish indifference….

…the sea of hate – where many people in this world swim on a regular basis.

If someone allows Satan to deceive them to the point that their conscience becomes seared…and hate is all they possess…

…that’s when we see apathy, indifference, and unconcern for others turn into abusive action…even - murder.

That’s where we pick up in our passage for today.

Verse 12 (1 John 3:12) says “Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.”

If you recall…in Genesis chapter 4… Adam and Eve’s first two children are boys – Cain and Abel.

As adults…Cain and Abel both bring offerings to the Lord…Cain – a farmer - brings grain; Abel – a shepherd - brings an animal sacrifice

Some theologians believe that Abel’s animal offering was superior to Cain’s due to it being a blood sacrifice…its hard to say for certain…

…but what we do know for certain was that Cain’s heart position toward his brother was one of extreme indifference…so much so that he hated his brother enough to murder him.

John says here in verse 12 that Cain ‘belonged’ to the evil one.

God’s moral law….originally written on Cain’s heart had been superseded by the Devil’s deceptive law of hatred, jealousy, and pride.

Cain had been completely deceived by Satan…and therefore he became a pawn of the evil one….in that sense, Cain ‘belonged’ to the Devil.

Some of you here this morning – like Joshua – like to play the game of chess.

In chess, pawns are the least important – and most expendable – pieces on the board.

Generally, they simply serve as a means to an end…they are used to advance one’s overall position of advantage on the board.

Brothers & Sisters - Satan sees you in a similar light…

If you are not a child of God…then you are just a pawn to Satan…you are completely expendable…

…and if you give him the opportunity to use you to his advantage…he will not hesitate to sacrifice your soul on the alter of indifference, hate, and unbelief.

Sadly…Cain had become a prototype of all who choose to be deceived by the lies and falsehoods spewed forth from Satan…

…Lies that much of our culture has bought into - and has become heavily invested in.

The lie that blindly swimming with the crowd characterized by apathy and selfish ambition will somehow lead to a desired result.

Some of you enjoy watching the Chosen series…

I appreciate how the intro to each episode begins with a bright teal fish swimming upstream amidst a sea of colorless, seemingly apathetic fish all swimming the wrong direction…

…Then all of a sudden, a colorless fish will have contact with the teal fish – take on color themselves – and begin swimming against the current…

It’s a powerful visualization of how the gospel has the power to change lives…and one of the changes in a redeemed heart is the capacity to truly love others.

John says here in verse 14 (1 John 3:14) that a reliable litmus test for a genuine faith has to do with your love for other people….especially those within the Church.

He says “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers.”

Possessing genuine Love for others – Consistently taking action in the pursuit of another’s well-being – is the single greatest indicator that someone has become born again…

…At the same time, someone who has not been born again will never be able to consistently display selfless love for others – it is completely contrary to an unredeemed heart.

This is what John is saying in the second half of verse 14 (1 John 3:14) …anyone who does not love remains in death.”

A colorless soul doesn’t take on color until it hears – and responds to - the gospel message of Jesus Christ…

That’s when it becomes a new creature…takes on color…and begins moving against the current of cultural persuasion, godless indoctrination, and demonic manipulation….

…And – perhaps most amazing of all – he or she begins to truly love others in a way that echoes the love that drove Jesus to the cross for each and every one of us.

Only Jesus-followers can experience this agape love…a divine love that drives the believer to selflessly act in pursuit of someone else’s well-being….even if that person is a complete stranger.

In the story of the Good Samaritan, the two men were complete strangers…

…yet the Samaritan man’s love for others was demonstrated through his act of kindness toward the man in need.

It’s relatively easy to love actively when it involves assisting a family member…or a close friend…right?

The real test of one’s heart condition is when the individual needing help is someone who lacks any ability to compensate you…

those are the moments that reveal the true colors of your heart!

Verse 16 (1 John 3:16) describes the epitome of active love when it references the cross – it says, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us…”

Folks, if you want to see what loving actively looks like in practice, just look at the life of Jesus.

John says in the next chapter of this letter that “God is love” (1 John 4:8)

…and the writer of Hebrews tells us that “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being….” (Hebrews 1:3)

Therefore – when you put flesh and bones on perfect love….you get Jesus.

Just think of all the healings..all the comforting…all the provision…all the humble service…and – ultimately – all the pain & shame of the cross.

Folks…this is what pure, selfless love looks like in real life.

…and – when called upon – Christians are to actively love in a similar manner.

Verse 16 (1 John 3:16) tells us to “lay down our lives for our brothers”…

For some, this may actually result in literally dying for someone else…

but, much more often, it means to selflessly put aside our own desires…our own wants…our own interests…for the sake of someone else’s needs.

In other words, the needs of others should trump the wants in our own life.

…And – folks – I’ll be the first to admit…this isn’t easy to do.

Verse 17 (1 John 3:17) is one of the most challenging passages in all of scripture…especially for those – like us -  who live in a society of abundance and excess.

This verse reads: “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?”

Meditate on that verse for a moment.

It’s convicting, isn’t it.

Every one of us here this morning has material possessions…some of you maybe have more than others…

…but – in comparison to most of the rest of the world – we are all very well off here in America.

To put it in perspective, if you own a home and a vehicle, you are wealthier than roughly 95% of the global population.

I’ll be brutally honest with all of you this morning… verse 17 bothers me.

It haunts me because it forces me to continually assess where I’m putting my financial support and efforts in regard to helping those in need…and furthering God’s kingdom work here on Earth…

…It forces me to ask myself “Am I doing enough with what God has given me?”

This verse also typically brings up the question of “Is it possible to be a rich Christian?”…to have an abundance of money or material possessions?....

…and – if so - how much abundance is too much?

Admittedly…These can be very difficult questions to answer…

But if we look at scripture, we tend to see the theme of one’s heart condition and attitude towards abundance as being more important than abundance in and of itself.

When Jesus teaches about it being easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter heaven…

The main thrust of that message is that it is vastly more difficult for people with an abundance of resources to be completely dependent upon God for their daily needs…

…and the temptation to be selfish – rather than selfless – comes in to play when individuals have an abundance of money or material wealth.

I was talking about this verse with a friend this past week and I mentioned an acquaintance of mine who lives in the Twin Cities.

He and his wife are retired now, but they’ve been very financially successful over the span of their careers…

They live comfortably with abundance…

…but they are also committed Jesus followers who have given literally millions of dollars to ministries that are advancing the gospel of Jesus Christ here on earth.

They have been able to provide more money to ministries than many of us will ever make in our lifetime.

To me – they are the rare type of individuals who can live with abundance, yet not be attached to that abundance…

…to have money - yet not have a love for that money.

…to have material goods – yet not idolize those material goods.

They exemplify the camel that – with God’s assistance – has the ability to pass through the needle

…this is indeed rare – and probably why many of us are not in that same financial position.

Many people think of ‘living the good life’ as a blessing from God…and prosperity teachers will actually preach that kind of ideology…

but - more often than not – having material abundance can be a curse

..A curse because it becomes so very easy to place your faith in your earthly fortune…rather than in the Heavenly Father.

The last few verses of today’s passage give us a beautiful picture of how the genuine, obedient believer can be assured of his or her salvation…

…and have confidence before God….through faith in the savior, Jesus Christ.

John boils everything down for us in verse 23 (1 John 3:23) “And this is His command: to believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.”

Folks, these are the essentials of our faith…every command of scripture…the entirety of the law….it can all be brought down to these 2 things:

Love God….and…Love others.

If you truly love God – you will live in consistent obedience to him…

And if you truly love others – you will be putting your genuine faith on display…and thereby drawing others to the savior.

So…the next time you come up against your own ‘Twins’ in life…someone difficult to love….whoever that may be….

…remember that love eventually conquers all…give it time…give it patience…

And watch how God will turn hearts of stone into hearts of flesh…through your efforts.

The greatest force in the world is – indeed – love.

Let’s Pray.