11.07.06
Charity
This reminded me of 1 Corinthians 13
“1 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. 2 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. 3 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. 4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 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. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”
The next thing that came to mind is the modern day use of the word “charity.” These days we think of charity as giving to the poor or doing some type of volunteer work to help the needy. But I believe the word “charity” as is used in 1 Corinthians 13 above refers to an older and deeper meaning of charity, which is “love of humanity.” The Greeks had at least three different words for love–phileo, eros, and agape. Phileo is to love, to be friendly to one, to delight in, to long for. Eros is a love between a man and a woman. Involving a sexual type of love. Agape is a selfless devotion to something or unconditional commitment to another. A devoted love. The Greek word used for charity in 1 Corinthians 13 is “agape,” not phileo, eros, or any other Greek word for love. Agape is a special love that is used in the Bible. Agape is the type of love Jesus gave and involves loving those who don’t love you. Jesus said, “You have heard love your neighbor and hate your enemy, but what good is it to love those who love you? Love your enemies and pray for those who mistreat you.” Agape is a powerful, deep and devotional love, the type of sacrifice Jesus gave to us as an example. This seems to indicate more than just giving to the poor as 1 Corinthians 13:3 states:
“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.”
One would think bestowing all my goods to feed the poor IS charity as we think of it today, but obviously that is not the kind of charity to which is being referred. I believe it is “agape” love that we need–the kind of unconditional love that Jesus gave to us.
Marlakins
