Talk is cheap, but love is costly because love does. If love doesn’t do anything, if it’s good intentions and no follow-through, all talk and no walk, then it’s not love. It may be an idea. It may even be a good idea, but if it doesn’t have legs, it’s not love. Love has some Missouri in it. Missouri is the “show me” state. Saying “I love you” without showing “I love you” is empty. You may wax eloquently about love, but if you don’t show love, your words will melt away like Olaf in the heat of summer. 

How do we love? John tells us one practical way is by helping those in need. 

But 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?

Do you hear the seriousness of that? John says if you have the means to help someone in need and choose to ignore them anyway, how can God’s love abide in you? Does this mean we have to help everyone? By no means! While you will not be able to help everyone, you can help someone. Love the person in front of you. Don’t run your mouth about loving. Run over and help a brother out. Words and talk are just that. Love has legs.