Answer: We should love with ACTIONS and IN TRUTH, (verse 18).
MORE INFORMATION AND/OR OTHER SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:
Verse 17 of this text 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?" The KJV translates "has no pity on him" as "shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him." The Greek word translated "shutteth up" is literally to "shut up the bowels." The Greek verb translates "to close like the door." The tense gives a graphic picture of slamming the door of one's compassion--to shut the door of the heart, the seat of emotions.
And then John's next statement sums up the laying down of our lives for our brethren--to love from the heart--by saying that love is ACTION and done IN TRUTH. Not many of us are called on to die for our brothers. But in smaller things we may show the same spirit, and share whatever we have of material possessions with a brother in need:
Luke 16:10-11: [Jesus said,] "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?"
The extent of our love with actions and in Truth is an indicator of how much we love, honor and revere the One Who, in perfect love, forgives us our many sins. (Read Luke 7:36-50.)
LOVE IN TRUTH:
Ezekiel 33:30-32: [God, speaking to Ezekiel, His prophet, said,] "As for you, son of man, your countrymen are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, ‘Come and hear the message that has come from the Lord.' My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice."
Mark 7:6-13: "He [Jesus] replied, ‘Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: "These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. They worship Me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men." You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.' And He said to them: ‘You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! For Moses said, "Honor your father and your mother," and, "Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death." But you say that if a man says to his father or mother: "Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban" (that is, a gift devoted to God), then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. Thus you nullify the Word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.'"
John 14:21: [Jesus said,] "Whoever has My commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves Me. He who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I too will love him and show Myself to him."
Ephesians 4:15-16: "Instead, speaking the Truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him Who is the Head, that is, Christ. From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."
2 John 1:3-6: "Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father's Son, will be with us in Truth and love. It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the Truth, just as the Father commanded us. And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to His commands. As you have heard from the beginning, His command is that you walk in love."
LOVE IN ACTION:
Deuteronomy 15:7-11: [God said,] "If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs. Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: ‘The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near,' so that you do not show ill will toward your needy brother and give him nothing. He may then appeal to the Lord against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land."
Luke 12:16-21: "And He [Jesus] told them this parable: ‘The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, "What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops." Then he said, "This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I'll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.'" But God said to him, "You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?" This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.'"
Luke 16:19-15: [Jesus said,] "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.'"
Romans 12:9-12: "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality."
2 Corinthians 8:24: "Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it."
The ACTIONS of love summed up in 1 Corinthians 13:4-13:
Love is patient. Love is kind. Love does not envy. Love does not boast. Love is not proud. Love is not rude. Love is not self-seeking. Love is not easily angered. Love keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the Truth. Love always protects. Love always trusts. Love always hopes. Love always perseveres. Love never fails. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Consider the following Scriptures:
Philemon 1:7: "Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints."
Hebrews 10:24: "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds."
James 2:15-16: "Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?"
1 Peter 1:22: "Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the Truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart."
Revelation 2:19: [Jesus said,] "I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first."
