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.
Wow! What is this charity thing Paul’s talking about? It must be something real important if it outweighs such weighty things like speaking in tongues or the gift of prophecy and understanding. He even goes so far as claiming that if you have all the faith in the world, so that you could move mountains, and don’t have this wonder thing called charity, then you’re still nothing. Neither does giving away all your possessions to feed the poor or sacrificing your body mean anything unless you have this charity. Well, Charity, in today’s parlance, has been whittled down to mean simply giving to the needy, however in Paul’s time it meant much more than that. Today, we tend to term it LOVE. But it’s also much more than simple LOVE. It ‘s more a genuine concern for others, a deep-seated interest in their well-being, whether or not they’re less fortunate than us. Paul is saying that even if we have all the wonderful God-given gifts of faith, speaking in tongues and prophecy and don’t have a sincere caring for our fellow man, then it’s all a waste. The same thing goes for giving away all your earthly belongings: If you don’t do it with the right spirit, the right intentions, from a heart that truly cares, then it really doesn’t earn you too much marks with J.C, because what He looks at, what He’s concerned with, is the state of our heart, the why of our giving, not merely the giving. That’s why Friends we’ve got to keep a close watch on our innermost feelings, keep checking our hearts to see if we’re doing the right things for the right reasons, not just for outward show. Unless there’s a genuine sincerity and thoughtfulness behind our actions, then it all goes for nought; it’s worthless. So please people, let’s try and improve that area of our lives, because many of us just do for doing sake, to make us look good in the eyes of others, and don’t really feel a genuine concern, which is so highly important to whatever we do in the eyes of The Most High. Much LOVE!…and keep those flames of true care and consideration burning brightly in our hearts, so others can feel it and be drawn into His Comforting Circle of LOVE!
Wow! What is this charity thing Paul’s talking about? It must be something real important if it outweighs such weighty things like speaking in tongues or the gift of prophecy and understanding. He even goes so far as claiming that if you have all the faith in the world, so that you could move mountains, and don’t have this wonder thing called charity, then you’re still nothing. Neither does giving away all your possessions to feed the poor or sacrificing your body mean anything unless you have this charity. Well, Charity, in today’s parlance, has been whittled down to mean simply giving to the needy, however in Paul’s time it meant much more than that. Today, we tend to term it LOVE. But it’s also much more than simple LOVE. It ‘s more a genuine concern for others, a deep-seated interest in their well-being, whether or not they’re less fortunate than us. Paul is saying that even if we have all the wonderful God-given gifts of faith, speaking in tongues and prophecy and don’t have a sincere caring for our fellow man, then it’s all a waste. The same thing goes for giving away all your earthly belongings: If you don’t do it with the right spirit, the right intentions, from a heart that truly cares, then it really doesn’t earn you too much marks with J.C, because what He looks at, what He’s concerned with, is the state of our heart, the why of our giving, not merely the giving. That’s why Friends we’ve got to keep a close watch on our innermost feelings, keep checking our hearts to see if we’re doing the right things for the right reasons, not just for outward show. Unless there’s a genuine sincerity and thoughtfulness behind our actions, then it all goes for nought; it’s worthless. So please people, let’s try and improve that area of our lives, because many of us just do for doing sake, to make us look good in the eyes of others, and don’t really feel a genuine concern, which is so highly important to whatever we do in the eyes of The Most High. Much LOVE!…and keep those flames of true care and consideration burning brightly in our hearts, so others can feel it and be drawn into His Comforting Circle of LOVE!
SCRIP-BITS 