some would say, starts at home. But that’s only one of the end results of charity – it really begins in the heart and expands outward. Charity has to be expressed. Spiritually, most definitions use love and charity interchangeably. For some reason the secular definition of the two words are related but separated – I will follow the spiritual basis. Charity is defined in scripture in 1 Corinthians 13, which is summed up in verse 13: “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three, but the greatest of these is love.” The point being that generosity or altruism can emanate from a variety of places but it is the heart that is the seat of true charity.
I believe that charity is the visible, tangible manifestation of love – it is love in action. And, it is strong, not weak. 1 Corinthians 13 defines the attributes of love: suffers long, kind, not envious, not parade itself, not puffed up, not behave rudely, not seek its own, not provoked, think no evil, not rejoice in iniquity, rejoices in truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things, never fails…. In that listings there are 8 things it does not do and 8 things it does do. So charity is a guide for us in both doing and not doing. Interesting…
It is important to know what charity doesn’t do as it is to know what it does do. The two aspects that I’ve always appreciated is that without love, I am nothing (vs 2) and it never fails (vs 8). But it is also my decision, my choice to act toward others with love. And yes, this isn’t always easy especially when we are defending ourselves. 1 Corinthians 14:1 tells us to pursue love. It isn’t that love doesn’t come ‘naturally’ to us, but it is a selfless, unconditional basis that we need to pursue.
Charity is far more than merely sending money to a needy ’cause’ (fill in the blank). It’s when charity becomes personal that you can see love in action. It means something at this point – it no longer is an ‘out there’ action. And the fascinating point is that the act brings so much to the actor – more than expected. Charity begins…. and ends in the heart.
