Skip to main content

Guest Post: Charity, The Pure Love of Christ

I was reading this post from Rise Above Your Limits  and I knew I wanted to have her guest post this on my blog.  




Photobucket




Charity, The Pure Love Of Christ


A few years ago, I was profoundly effected by an experience I had concerning Charity.  Living near me, was a young mother who had just had a new baby.  Having been in this same situation several times myself,  I was well acquainted with the struggle that can come from adjusting to life with a new baby.  I had made dinner for her and her husband and went to deliver it to her home, with the intent of offering to do some house cleaning for her while I was there.  


As I entered her home, it was a disaster, clothes, and stuff were all over the floor and a pile of dirty dishes were in the sink. I was so grateful for the opportunity to help someone who so obviously needed some help.


She took one look at me and the tray of food I'd brought and with a sound of anger in her voice told me she didn't need my food nor my help...she said she didn't accept Charity.     


People often view acts of Charity in terms of giving food, money, and clothing to someone who is financially struggling.  A major portion of our society feels uncomfortable receiving this type of 'Charity'...but, 

what REALLY is Charity?


Recently I was studying one of my favorite New Testament passages in 1 Corinthians 13 (KJV).  In this chapter, the Apostle Paul gives a clarifying definition of what Charity really is.  vs 4-8:
CHARITY
·             suffereth long
·             is kind
·             envieth not
·             vaunteth not itself (prideful)
·             is not puffed up
·             Doth not behave itself unseemly (indecently, unbecomingly)
·             seeketh not her own (selfishness)
·             is not easily provoked (anger, provoking, self-mastery)
·             thinketh no evil
·             rejoiceth not in iniquity (injustice, unrighteousness) 
·             but rejoiceth in truth
·             beareth all things
·             believeth all things
·             hopeth all things
·             endureth all things
·             Charity Never Faileth (dependability)

That's a pretty long list isn't it? It can also be overwhelming for those of us that are striving to be more Christlike.  As I view this list, three things come to mind...

1.       Charity is a state of being.  It's not random acts of kindness, but it is who we are.

2.       With God all things are possible.  He wants us to have His pure love emanate from us, so He will help us if we ask!

3.       We are given opportunities daily to develop Charity, the pure love of Christ by:
                * giving someone the benefit of the doubt
                * not categorizing someone
                * accepting someones weaknesses, differences, and    shortcomings 
                * having patience when someone has let us down
                * resisting the impulse to become offended
                * forgiving those who have hurt us
                * accepting the best of each other
                                        (Source: Marvin J Ashton)

These are just a few examples of how we can develop our character into becoming truly Charitable people.  Developing the true love of Christ is a daily task, it involves the decisions we are continually making.  When sought after in small doses, Charity doesn't seem so over whelming and comes into focus.





Make sure you head on over and tell her you loved this post as much as me!  Also she had a Wednesday Blog hop to join!  :)   Go meet more Christian bloggers!  :) 


I am always looking for more guest posters!  :)  If you have a family friendly I would love to hear from you.  Email me at aprillivingwell@gmail.com or comment here.  I am looking content but not limited to parenting, God, encouragement, crafts, artsy, or cooking posts.  :) 


Comments

Becky Jane said…
Thank you for posting my article. I love Christian Mom's that speak out! Hope you have a beautiful Wednesday!
TyKes Mom said…
I absolutely love this post by Becky Jane and am so thrilled to see it featured here! She is such a wonderful woman and her posts so often get me thinking about how to be a better Christian in my day to day life. Thank you for sharing her post!
I love this story of Charity. I believe it was shown by Becky Jane...She is an example

Popular posts from this blog

"The Reading Game" Review and Giveaway

Description: The first book in  The Reading Game  learn-to-read series tells the story of a skunk without a stripe who is rejected by the other skunks but finds acceptance among some cats and becomes their defender.  It’s told in rhyme, is beautifully illustrated, and is 32 pages long.  It will be the first book the student reads, and there are five more to follow in this groundbreaking learn to read program. Each of The Reading Game's six stories is told using just thirty new words.  These are broken down into six sets of five words.  The student learns to read each set of five words by playing a simple word matching game.  Frequent exposure through play hard wires these words into long-term memory.  Rote learning is transformed into a fast-paced game with a winner every few seconds. After completing Skunk, Game 1, the student has learned five words (can, cat, is, me, not).  Playing Game 2 adds an additional five w...

Common Mistakes Made When Writing a Will

  Writing a will should, by all means, be a simple thing. You want to make sure that your assets are being left to your loved ones and that your final wishes are being fulfilled. Usually, they are rather straightforward, but that doesn’t mean that they are entirely foolproof. Here, we’re going to look at some common issues that can lead to disputes or delays in carrying out your will. Image - CC0 License Not Having It Witnessed Correctly One of the most common mistakes when writing a will is not having it witnessed correctly. Wills generally require the signatures of at least two witnesses who are not beneficiaries or spouses of beneficiaries. If the will is not witnessed in accordance with legal requirements, it may be declared invalid, meaning your estate would be distributed according to intestacy laws, which may not align with your wishes. It’s important to follow the witnessing procedures exactly as outlined in your jurisdiction to ensure the will is legally enforceable. Chan...

Top Tips for Choosing Your Delivery Partner

  If you want your business to expand , then you need to take a look at your current delivery services and know whether or not you are giving your customers what they need. Modern day customers are no longer taking themselves to the shops to shop door to door anymore. People are moving their shopping habits to online, which means that you need to choose a delivery partner to deliver orders to the customers doorstep in a timely and easy manner. Not only will your delivery partner help to win your customers trust, but it will build your brand reputation and ensure that you have the business you've been looking for. However, it is important to recognise that choosing the right managed delivery partner is not a piece of cake. There are many factors that go into your decision. You have to find a delivery provider that knows your delivery needs, your business goals, and your customer needs so that you can ensure that you are meeting all of those needs too. Let's discuss some of the ...