Read: 1 John 3:11-17
We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. (v. 14)
Envy. It’s ever present in our culture. It even has a color associated with it. We say a person is green with envy. One of the Seven Deadly Sins, envy is characterized by a hatred of the good we see in others. Greed is the desire to have things we don’t; envy is the jealousy we feel toward the people who do have those things. It is deadly because it despises the success of others and strives to undermine that success. It resents coming in second. Such was Cain’s sin. Cain hated Abel because Abel’s sacrifice was more pleasing to God. His hatred led to murder.
The opposite of envy is love. Envy hates the wealthy, powerful, and successful; love lifts up the lowly and destitute. Envy tears down, love builds up. Envy leads to death, love to life. “Whoever does not love abides in death,” John writes (v. 14). But those who love pass from death to life. They have received the sacrificial love offered through Jesus Christ, and they are willing and eager to share that same love with others, especially “the least of these,” as Jesus called them.
Love is the distinguishing mark of all true Christians. “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” (v. 18)
As you pray, ask God to help you love others as you have been loved by his son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Jerry Sittser is a professor emeritus of theology and senior fellow at Whitworth University. He specializes in the history of Christianity, Christian spirituality, and religion in American public life. As an author, he has written nine books.
