The scriptures of Romans 16:3-4 and 1 John 3:16 draw us into a profound reflection on the nature of love within the body of Christ. These verses do not merely skim the surface of affection or polite kindness; instead, they dive deeply into the kind of love that risks everything—love that is costly, sacrificial, and profoundly Christlike. This love calls us to ask ourselves challenging questions: How precious are my fellow believers to me? Am I willing to risk my own safety, my own life, for them? –Kenneth Beaton
The Testimony of Prisca and Aquila
Paul’s words in Romans 16:3-4 shine a spotlight on Prisca (or Priscilla) and Aquila, a husband-and-wife team who exemplified this sacrificial love. Paul describes them as “my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who for my life risked their own necks” (NASB). The term “risked their own necks” is not figurative; it reflects a real willingness to face death for the sake of their brother in Christ.
The remarkable thing is that their love extended beyond Paul. He adds, “to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.” Their actions impacted not just one person but the broader church. Their selflessness is a picture of what love, rooted in Christ, can achieve: it builds, strengthens, and even saves the community of faith.
The Example of Christ
The call to this kind of love is not new. In 1 John 3:16, we are reminded of the supreme example: “We know love by this, that Christ laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (NASB). Christ’s sacrifice on the cross is the ultimate expression of love—a love that did not count the cost but willingly bore it for our sake.
John challenges us: if we claim to love as Christ loved, we must be willing to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. This is not abstract. It is a call to action, to love tangibly and sacrificially, not in word or theory alone.
The Cost of Loving Deeply
Loving deeply often involves risk. It is easy to say, “I love my church family,” but would we endure hardship for them? Would we inconvenience ourselves, give up comforts, or face danger for their sake? These are uncomfortable questions, but they are questions that the gospel compels us to ask.
Centuries ago, the great theologian Thomas Aquinas had a poignant exchange with the pope. Observing the wealth of the church, the pope remarked, “No longer can the church say, ‘Silver and gold have I none.’” Aquinas replied, “True, Holy Father, but neither can she now say, ‘In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.’” This exchange speaks to the danger of losing what is most vital in the church: a reliance on Christ’s power and a readiness to embody His sacrificial love.
The Challenge of a Modern Church
In our age of digital connections and virtual church services, these truths become even more challenging. While technology enables us to connect across great distances, it can also dilute the commitment and intimacy of a local body of believers. Can we truly say we would lay down our lives for people we have never met in person?
The call to love sacrificially must be lived out in the context of real, face-to-face relationships within the church. It is in the nitty-gritty of community—serving, forgiving, encouraging, and sometimes confronting—that Christlike love is forged and tested.
A Prayerful Commitment
Returning to the question: How precious are those in my home church to me? This is not just a matter of affection but of commitment. Do we see our brothers and sisters as Christ sees them—so precious that He gave His life for them?
As we reflect on this, may we prayerfully ask the Holy Spirit to shape our hearts, that we might love with the same intensity and selflessness as Christ. May we, like Prisca and Aquila, be willing to risk our necks for one another. And may we embrace the kind of love that compels us to lay down our lives, knowing that such love is the very heart of the gospel.
Let this prayer rise in our hearts: Lord, help me to love Your church as You do—with a love that knows no bounds, with a heart ready to serve, to sacrifice, and even to suffer for my brothers and sisters in Christ. Amen.
Ken Beaton
Graduated from Northpoint Bible College in Haverhill, MA with a B.A. in Biblical Studies/Pastoral Ministry. He and his wife reside in Penfield, NY. Ken is an elder serving in Evangelical Church of Fairport for the past twenty years.
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