chapterSEVEN: charity (love)

[Ryle]

the Queen of Christian graces!

"Now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity." 1 Corinthians 13:13

I. The place the Bible gives to charity:

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. --1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. --Colossians 3:14


But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. --1 Timothy 1:5

Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. --1 Peter 4:8

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." --John 13:34-35

"Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; --Matthew 25:41-42


Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. --Romans 13:8

...and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. --Ephesians 5:2

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. --1 John 4:7-8

II. What the charity of the Bible really is:

• The charity of the Bible does NOT consist in giving to the poor. (1 Corinthians 13:3)
• There is a different between charity and Biblical charity.
• The charity of the Bible does NOT consist in never disapproving anybody's conduct.
• To shut our eyes against wickedness, and say smooth things of immorality -- this is not Scriptural charity.
• The charity of the Bible does NOT consist in never disapproving anybody's religious opinions.
• i.e.: "Everybody's right, and nobody is wrong." ...charity like this pours contempt on the Bible.
• Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1) If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting (2 John 1:10)
• Charity of the Bible is that "love," which Paul places first among those fruits which the Spirit causes to be brought forth in the heart of a believer.
• Gal 1:2 "The fruit of the Spirit is love."
• i.e. Love to both God (first) and man
• Charity of the Bible will show itself in a believer's doings.
• Caring more for ministering than for being ministered to, and looking for nothing in return
• Charity of the Bible will show itself in the general spirit and demeanour of a believer.

     Christ was the ultimate example of charity/love

• ...and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; (1 Peter 2:23)
• He has left on record an everlasting proof that perfect charity does not require us to approve everybody's life or opinions, and that is quite possible to condemn false doctrine and wicked practice, and yet to be full of love at the same time.

III. Whence true charity comes:

The natural heart knows nothing of true charity.
The charity of the Bible will never be found except in a heart prepared by the Holy Ghost.
The heart in which charity grows is a heart changed, renewed, and transformed by the Holy Ghost.
Such a heart is deeply convinced of sin, hates it, flees from it, and fights with it from day to day.
Such a heart is deeply sensible of its mighty debt to our Lord Jesus Christ.

IV. Why charity is "the greatest" of the graces:

*We are not to suppose, for a moment, that charity can atone for our sins, or make our peace with God. Nothing can do that for us but the blood of Christ, and nothing can give us an interest in Christ's blood but faith.

*We are not to suppose that charity can exist independently of faith. 

• It is most useful to others.
• It makes man useful.
• It is the spring of good works and kindnesses.
• It is the grace which endures the longest.
• It will never die; come the resurrection they will be put aside in the presence of the Lord because we will have sight (instead of faith) and certainty (instead of hope). But heave will be the abode of love. 

Consider:

Have you charity?

What is your temper?

What are you ways of behaving toward all around you in your own family?

What is your manner of speaking, especially in seasons of vexation and provocation?

Where is your good-nature, your courtesy, your patience, your meekness, your gentleness, your forbearance?

Where are your practical actions of love in your dealing with others?

What do you know of the mind of Him who "went about doing good,"--who loved all, though specially His disciples,--who returned good for evil, and kindness for hatred, and had a heart wide enough to feel for all?

Go and learn of Him who is meek and lowly of heart, and ask Him to teach you how to love. Ask the Lord Jesus to put His Spirit within you, to take away the old heart, to give you a new nature, to make you know something of His mind. Cry to Him night and day for grace, and give Him no rest until you feel something of what has been described. Happy indeed will your life be when you really understand "walking in love."

1. Practice charity diligently.

• Proverbs 31:26
• She opens her mouth in wisdom, And the [fn18] teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
• 1 Corinthians 16:14
• Let all that you do be done in love.
• 1 Peter 4:8
• Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.

2. Teach charity to others.


Ryle, J. C. "Charity." 2009. Practical Religion. Carlisle: Banner of Truth, 1998. 165-182. Print.