In John 15, Jesus tells his followers that he is the vine and they are the branches. “Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (vs. 5). Importantly, he says, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples” (vs. 7-8). God’s desire is for us to produce much fruit–to be able to love and bless others abundantly.
In fact, Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (vs. 11). There is more to life than abundance. Christ wants our joy to be full. He explains: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (vs. 12-13).
Sacrificial love is always contextualized. 1 John 3:16-17 says, “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 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?” The answer is it doesn’t. Love is not only about laying our lives down for each other. It’s about providing the needs of others when we have abundance.