Charity

1 Corinthians 13:3 "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." We ask the question; why charity? The Greek definition for charity is “love” and since God is love then a love like life must come from God. No matter what else one has or does in life, it means nothing if it has not love. One can sacrifice their entire life and estate to anything but if it is not done in love then it is worthless. Many will stand before the Lord Jesus Christ and proclaim their sacrifices but it will to no profit. "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (23.) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Matthew 7:22 – 23. These are not those who claim to be non-Christians but millions upon millions who claim to be Christians but will find out that they were not. These will be those who gave much money to the Lord, those who sacrificed much time for the Lord, those who may have even given their life as a sacrifice for the Lord, but all to no profit. There is a difference between one who sacrifices for the Lord out of charity and one who sacrifices for the Lord for a cause. Love is a gift of God; God calls it a fruit of the Holy Spirit which all true Christians have. God does not give His Attributes to the Lost, their spiritual hearts are dead and therefore they cannot do things for the love of God but rather for a love of profit. I also worry about those who have little or no sense of charity about them. God has always told the Christian to sacrifice all for Him and to help His other Children. Let us not forget God gave to us His all in His beloved Son Jesus The Christ. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (14.) Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." John 15:13 – 14 God also said of the true Christian that we should be willing to lay down our life for our fellow Christian. “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” 1 John 3:16 Folks what is in our hearts? Is it the Holy Spirit or the power of darkness tricking us to think we are Christians? A true Christian will always do things for others in charity and for no other reason. If one ever does something for another out of obligation, or for any other reason than love and expecting something in return then it was not done godly. "For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. (9.) This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. (10.) For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe." 1 Timothy 4:8 – 10 How is your heart, is it full of Gods love or is it empty? Today is the time for a test and if you lack true love in your heart then you will also lack the Holy Spirit of God. Folks no matter what you give to God; even if it is your life as a sacrifice it is totally worthless if it is not out of charity. Charity is the only profitable gift you can give. I pray you are not one of those unprofitable servants who ask “…have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works…” 1 John 5:1 - 2 "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. (2.) By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments."