My favorite scripture on charity is 1 Corinthians 13:3-8: 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, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, 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.
Charity is also the way that we can heal the world: “With Malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds.”--Abraham Lincoln
My definition of charity is the pure love of Christ. I can have more charity by doing things for the right reasons. When I do service, I can do it out of my own heart. I can think less of myself this week by acting and completing my tasks with the attitude of selflessness.
Charity is really significant. Not only is it the purpose of life, but it is the most powerful thing in existence. Charity brought us Christ's atonement. Charity saved each of us and brought us back to God, but only if we accept it. By showing Christ's love to others, we are giving them the opportunity to accept the atonement and doing that allows them to feel more charity and in turn be able to give more charity.
Charity helps us to stay focused on what matters most because it is what matters most. If we are doing things with pure love for others in our hearts, then we are doing what Christ wants us to do. Developing charity for someone is a difficult thing to do, but it starts with a desire to love them. As long as we have that desire and act on it, Christ will help us the rest of the way, because He is charity.
I agree and i think that charity is like faith in the way that you have to act on it its not going to do anything if you just think about doing it you have to do!
ReplyDeleteRachel
I like that Abraham Lincoln quote a lot! I agree with you on this one!!!
ReplyDeleteI loved the discussion we had about charity and 'in the box' on Friday. I think this really has to do with that a lot. We can't really have charity and be in the box at the same time. Yes, we can serve and stuff, but can we truly have charity??
ReplyDeleteIsaiah, I really appreciated you reminding us that as we show charity to others we give them the opportunity to feel Christ's love for them. This will implant a desire in them to want to show more charity to others. I LOVE those cyclical effects. Thanks for sharing your thoughts:)
ReplyDelete