Lord’s Day, Vol. 2 No. 9

Posted on Posted in March 2014, Weekly 2014, Weekly Newsletter Tagged with , ,

What is Biblical Charity?

We shall begin a series of exhortation on the meaning of biblical charity to be periodically placed in the weekly newsletter based on 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a for your encouragement.

Charity Never Faileth (1 Corinthians 13:8a)

The perfection of God’s love in the believer’s life is the fullness of Christ-likeness manifested in the believer’s life. There is permanence and an enduring nature to this love that is victorious in the sight of God. The Apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit describes as such – “charity never faileth”.

That is the sense of the adverb “never”, not at any time will charity fail. If we do manifest this blessed fruit of the Spirit in our lives, we will not lose our reward when we meet our Lord Jesus at the Bema (Judgement Seat) at His coming. It is considered gold, silver and precious stones. It is able to withstand the crucible of God’s judgment. There is no condemnation from God (Galatians 5:22-23) whatsoever when we show forth charity in our lives is the sense of this phrase.
The 15 characteristics of charity from 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 are:

Verse 4

  1. Charity suffereth long meaning charity is patient,
  2. Charity is kind;
  3. Charity envies not;
  4. Charity vaunteth not itself, charity does not boast
  5. charity is not puffed up, charity is not proud

Verse 5

  1. Charity does not behave itself unseemly, charity is not rude
  2. Charity seeks not her own, charity is not self- seeking
  3. Charity is not easily provoked, charity is not easily angry
  4. Charity thinks no evil; charity keeps no record of wrongs

Verse 6

  1. Charity rejoiceth not in iniquity, charity does not delight in evil
  2. Charity rejoices in the truth;
  3. Verse 7
  4. 12) Charity beareth all things, charity always protects others
  5. 13) Charity believeth all things, always trusts
  6. 14) Charity hopeth all things, always hopes
  7. 15) Charity endureth all things, always persevere.

Dear reader, if there is any study that is critical for our spiritual progress I encouraged you to study the character of God’s love. Jesus says in John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” The manifestation of the nature of God’s love is delineated for our learning.

The Apostle Paul compares it with other gifts in the second part of the verse pertaining to prophecies, tongues and knowledge which shall fail or shall cease and concludes that charity is superior over the other gifts of the Holy Spirit in that it never fails. It is an encouragement for believers to learn the character of God’s love and to manifest it in our interaction with one with another, at home, in the work place, in church, every where the Lord may send us. Jesus says, “by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples.” The world is in chaos with much war and hatred between people, between nations, in the homes and God’s people are asked to make a sanctifying difference. May the Lord grant us His grace to be salt and light for Him in a sin-darkened world by showing forth the power of God’s love that melts away every hatred in our hearts!

God willing, next week, we shall look deeper into the characteristic of charity suffereth long.

Yours lovingly
Pr Lek Aik Wee