I love the Bible because it is so gritty with the dirt of real life. In the previous verse, John told his churches that they should be willing to lay down their lives for each other. That's pretty good in theory, especially when you don't think it will ever be necessary. But this verse makes the application of that principle an every day reality: Is there somebody in your church in need, then be moved to help them, that's what laying down your life is all about!