In Christian theology charity, or love (agapē), means an unlimited loving-kindness toward all others. The term should not be confused with the more restricted modern use of the word charity to mean benevolent giving.Love, in this sense of an unlimited loving-kindness towards all others, is held to be the ultimate perfection of the human spirit, because it is said to both glorify and reflect the nature of God. In its most extreme form such love can be self-sacrificial. This love is necessary for salvation, and with it no one can be lost. Charity is comprised two parts, love of God and love of man, which includes both love of one's neighbor and one's self. Jesus Christ is the perfect example of charity. His crowning expression of charity was His infinite Atonement.
The stronger our hope, the purer our charity. The reason why charity never fails and the reason why charity is greater than even the most significant acts of goodness is that charity, “the pure love of Christ”, is not an act but a condition or state of being. Charity is something one becomes. "Charity Never Faileth". Charity encompasses all other godly virtues. When all else fails, charity—Christ’s love—will not fail.
"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". (1Cor 13:4-8)
If ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all. … “Charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever.”
14 comments:
This is such a nice post. I hope more and more bloggers can have the chance to read your very inspiring post.
I really believe that brotherly love is the most powerful gesture. We could conquer the world by showing brotherly love to one another.
To have a charity, you must have one for yourself and your family. I think, to me..it is thinking others first before yourself. Very true for the Mom's they always think about their kids and husband and forgot themselves-at least once in a while.
Great virtue to live. Nice peace of article.
it's wonderful post white shadow,
I hope we always keep a charity in our self, and extend our love for another, and I am sure that we can more can see the actual life by every love and happiness which we shared
Sometimes, the biggest enemy to prevent ourselves from doing this charity is ourselves.
The obstacle is not in your neighborhood, environment, friends, or even your enemies... It's in yourself...
That's why Christ is the perfect example just like you wrote. Because He have defeat 'he' as human nature and only oblige to His Father and to love human race with charity.
Mother is the first person to educate and inculcate the spirit of charity into her baby, and through the religion it will more perfect.
But I think, in our family itself, should have the affection and happiness, then our child will learn.
Great post for self reflection.
for charity should begin to develop inside your home
thanks for sharing this wonderful post
have a great day and God bless you
But we are not prostitutes. Christ said: "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." But who are our friends? And Christ said: "But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ..." But our enemies are not helped by us serving and justifying them.
Hi Grace, Thanks for the compliments. Love is the greatest thing to hold on. It has great power to change the world. Just as what you said.
Angelmist, it is indeed needs to start at home. That is the greatest foundation of all the values we bring outside our home that may have a great effect in our society.
Dear Niar, yeah, love can be shared and so is happiness can be spread...
Dear Aldhis, humans are carnal in nature, it means that we have the intention to love the world because of our weaknesses. That's why the more we tried to do good, our worst enemy becomes ourselves because of those weaknesses. But as we move with faith, those weaknesses will become as our strength.
Dear Tikno, you're right, our home and so is our parents play an important role in educating us. The values we live with our family is the values we live wherever we go. We must start in a stronger foundation.
Dear Bluedreamer27, very true and thanks for the visit again.
Dear Anders, As I have mentioned that Jesus' crowning expression of charity was His infinite Atonement. You're right sometimes we thought that we are not helping our enemies but we need to consider also that people around us have their own choices. But the example we live will stand as a testimony of the love of the Savior, and through us they will learn greater knowledge and wisdom that keeping the commandments will us bring us peace, joy and happiness and even safety.
For all of you who shared your thoughts, thanks you so much and may His spirit will continue to abide us. Let's keep the faith...WHITEShadow
Charity is the highest, noblest, strongest kind of love, not merely affection; the pure love of Christ.
Is charity selfish? This is a tough topic. Your first reaction may be to say charity is good. That is what I thought at first but allow me a moment to explain.
For example, The feeling of satisfaction when a person gives a couple of dollars to beggar in the street ultimately does nothing for the beggar but creates a good feeling for the given.
Another example form the Peace Corps friend, said that when charity organization comes to poor rural community for a few days to give stuff then leaves. They actually cause more harm than good. For one they never give enough stuff which causes conflict. Then in the end it makes the “poor people” more needy and less self sufficient I the long run.
What do you think? When is charity ok? Is charity wrong or a selfish act?
I'm not sure if any person is really able to achieve the same level of charity, or agape that Christ or God has for us. I don't know if it is possible for a person to reach that kind of love. We may come close to it. For example, at a single moment of anger, the person who is experiences anger, even if it is for a moment, will forget how much they loved their loved one. But God, even if He is angry, will never forget that He loves you. Your comments make people think.Which is good. One such point that you may want to elaborate on is: what do you mean about: infinite atonement? How do you define this term?
Nice post. God is love and as Christians, we are to show the love of God. That's they only way we will be able to successful draw others to Christ - with love and kindness.
Blessings!
Shanita
Dear Nuke, good point! Even we give our all we can never equal to what the Savior has done for us, we offer our testimony of the reality of His matchless life and the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice. Through His Atonement we can receive spiritual and physical healing if we have faith. This is infinite, with eternal effect though He only suffered once. We may not be able to comprehend His sufferings and pain during His agony in the Garden of Eden before He was crucified, but He gave His life, He don't complain and we hear no murmuring escape from His mouth, He bear all of it to save all humankind. Ponder the Savior’s precious words about the Atonement after He passed through it. There is no mention of the vinegar. No mention of the scourging. No mention of having been struck. No mention of having been spat upon. He does declare that He “suffer[ed] both body and spirit” in an exquisiteness which we simply cannot comprehend. His marvelous meekness and compassion to the very end is an expression of His pure love, of perfect charity, yet we all know that He is the most exalted one - our SAVIOR.
Dear Shanita Waters, just as what everybody 'love is the greatest thing of all'. I has power to heal all wounds and amend broken relationship, even with
our relationship with Christ.
Dear Maria: Thanks for the comments and the opinion about the proper way of showing charity. There are different way where we can show our charity, whether it is directly or indirectly but either way it should it should promote good feeling for both... I agree that God teach us to become fisher of men. Wisdom is what we use whether we have to help or not. If we think that helping people can make them dependent and abusive, we should look for ways to help them become more self-reliant but either way is a test for us in exercising charity.
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