The word “charity” in Greek is “agape” which means “love that is affection or benevolence; dear love.” Charity is the deep, caring, loving feeling that someone has towards another.
For example, when a baby is born, the parents are filled with deep love and affection for their little child. Without their parents to take care of them and protect them, a baby would die. Their parents’ charity and love towards their baby provides for their every need. Just as parents, we need to be filled with charity in everything that we do.
“And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” Colossians 3:14
“Let all your things be done with charity.” 1 Corinthians 16:14
Basically, charity is brotherly love. And as Jesus taught, their is no greater commandment than to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself. Charity will cause someone to do the best that they can do for another. Charity will help another when they see someone cold, and it will give them a blanket. It will see someone hungry and will give them food. It will put another before yourself.
“Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:” 1 Timothy 1:5
When someone is filled with charity, it will be forgiving when someone apologizes and repents for something that they have committed offense for. Charity will not bring up past sins and mistakes, but instead it will cover them up and not remember or talk about them anymore.
“And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8
But no matter how many good things someone does, if they don’t do it with love, there is no point. A person can give a million dollars to an institution, but unless they have charity, it will not profit them.
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,” 1 Corinthians 13:1-4
When someone has charity, they will not exalt themselves over another person, and be filled up with pride. Charity will seek the better of another person. A charity-filled person will realize that we are all sinners in need of grace and forgiveness from the Lord and they will desire to show that love to others.
In whatever you do, do it with love. Put the needs of someone else before your own. Just as Jesus loved us, we need to do the same to others. We need to be filled with charity.
“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” Matthew 7:12
That is love. That is charity.
In Christ,
Andrew
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 