1 John 3:11-24 Four Levels of Relationships With Others

John shows us four potential levels on which we may live in relationship with others.  The lowest is murder and it’s the level where Satan lives.  “The world hates Christ … Christ shows up the world’s sin and reveals its true nature … People of the world try to cover up their true nature with religious rites,” my commentary said.  God isn’t wanted in their lives.

A second level is hatred, and it is much like murder.  “The question is not so much, ‘What did you do?’ but ‘What did you want to do?’  What would you have done if you had been at liberty to do as you pleased?”  A believer may occasionally be angry with a brother, but it is not the same as a settled habit of hate toward an unbeliever.”

Indifference is a third level, and a Christian can exist on this level, but shouldn’t.  “Jesus had this in mind in the parable of the good Samaritan.  A lawyer wanted to talk about an abstract subject:  “Who is my neighbor?”  But Jesus focused attention on one man in need, and changed the question to, “To whom can I be a neighbor?”  My commentary continued, “A man need not even hate his brother to be guilty of sin.  All he has to do is ignore him or be indifferent to his needs.”

The final level is Christian love.  “To love in word means simply to talk about  a need, but to love in deed means to do something about meeting it.  You may think, because you have discussed a need, or even prayed about it, that you have done your duty, but love involves more than words – it calls for sacrificial deeds.”

Father, help me to exist on that last level.  I know that when I do, I will enjoy great blessings from You – assurance, answered prayer, and abiding in You are some which John mentioned here.  And I want to be abiding in You.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford