1
Corinthians 13:1-3
“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.”
*What is
Charity, you might ask? Charity in the bible is Love. Love is an important
factor in effectively performing the works for the Lord. Without charity/love,
anything that we do is considered nothing; it was all for nothing. In today’s
society we know charity as it is where people donate their money and time to a
certain foundation in need of support. Though it is a wonderful experience to
take part in, half the time people today do it without feeling and only looking
for a return investment. Now how can you possibly receive a reward from giving
to a charity? Well, people think giving publicly will heighten their status in society
and give the appearance of a good person; but that is just it. Now, I’m not
saying everyone has this mindset, but with the many hearts today, it has
completely changed the true purpose of Charity.
What
God wants to see in the “Charity” we partake in for Him, is fulfilling His Word,
and that is by spreading the good news to all nations and tongues. The only
problem the Lord sees today, is that people are lacking the most important
factor, Love. Love is an emotion that produces action into someone or something
we have such passion for. **
1
Corinthians 13:4-8
“Charity
suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself,
is not puffed up. Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not
easily provoked, thinketh no evil: Rejoiceth not in inquity, but rejoiceth in
the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things,
endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies,
they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be
knowledge, it shall vanish away.”
*This
brings me back to the story of the Samaritan who went out of his way to help a
Jew. *
Luke
10: 30-37
“And Jesus answering said, A certain man
went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him
of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by
chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he
passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place,
came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan,
as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on
him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set
him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on
the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host,
and said unto him, take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come
again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor
unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him,
Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.”
*If you
notice in the reading above, this man that had befallen among thieves was
rejected help from two people that you would assume would stop and help, but
had in fact turned a blind eye! A priest of all people to turn their face of
someone in need is a true betrayel, someone that is suppose to eat, sleep and
breathe compassion for mankind because they are suppose to be a holy vessel.
But by the example of this priest, it doesn’t matter of the apparel and persona
you carry. If you don’t exemplify that title in action by LOVE, especially in
this case, then everything you have done or continue to do is by no means
valuable in the eyes of the Lord. Then a Levite, someone who is of the same kind
as the beaten man, had turned his eyes and withheld compassion from helping
this man. It shows that even if you share the same bloodline and/or fellowship
as someone else, you can still reject them without batting an eye. I have heard
family members turning their back on each other, and it could be for the price
of the all mighty dollar! Now, what speaks volumes in this study, is that
someone who you would never even consider taking the time out for this person,
did exactly that! Samaritans and Jews were to be separate back then, because of
the different beliefs and cultures they held; Samaritans were idol worshippers
while the Jews were to solely worship God. The fellowship of these two people
were a no-no, for the reason of the influence of Idol worship. But in this
case, the Samaritan wasn’t concerned about the background of this helpless man,
he looked upon the need. He showed a compassion that no one else showed him,
and went out of his way to make sure the man was taken care of. He did this out
of the love he had in his heart, and not thinking of anything in return;
especially for someone who he wasn’t to be in contact with! Oh, how we can
share this same love for others! We live in a wicked world where people look
out for #1 and no one else. This is the opposite of what God wants from us. *
1
Corinthians 13:9-13
“For we
know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come,
then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a
child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I
put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face
to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And
now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is
charity.”
*It takes a person of true heart and maturity to put others
first in replace of their own needs. It is said, that we should have Faith,
Hope and Charity (Love) but most importantly Charity (Love)! Remember, that God
is Love, and without that Love, He doesn’t live in us as He should! *
1 John
4:16“And we
have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that
dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.”
