Charity

“In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.” - Augustine

‘Charity’ is one of those old words we don’t use very much now, but it has a wealth of significant meaning, especially for the faithful Christian. It is mostly translated as ‘love’ in the Bible, and who doesn’t know the love chapter of 1st Corinthians 13? Jesus also told us to love one another, as we love ourselves, and as He has loved us. We can’t dodge it, we have to show charity, or in other words to love one another.

The other meanings of ‘charity’ would be ‘concern’, ‘caring’, ‘looking for the best’, ‘welfare’, ‘goodness’, and in each case it involves the initial parts of falling in love. Can you remember the time when you started to notice the woman who would become your wife? All your thoughts, feelings and emotions were only for her good, and aimed at the one who would become your love. Is it stretching it too far to suggest that if you say you act in love, but don’t have the caring heart needed up front to support it, then this kind of love is only a part time feeling, and maybe even a sham?

Augustine nailed it when he suggests that in all things we must have charity, or love. It tops essentials and non-essentials every time, and is based on sound Scripture. Perhaps we could all do with some more good old fashioned charity.

A soft and gentle and thoughtful answer turns away wrath, But harsh and painful and careless words stir up anger. Proverbs 15:1 (AMP)