Be Charitable
We have been discussing the character qualities that should be in those who desire to minister to others. Tonight we will discuss the need to be charitable.
According to 2 Pet 1:4-7 we can have charity because we are partakers of the divine nature. To brotherly kindness we add charity. If you imagine that these things that we add to our faith are built on top of each other, charity is at the very top. Notice that knowledge is further down the list.
In 1 Cor 13:1-8, charity is supernatural love. We are not naturally equipped to do the things that charity does. However, when we have charity we can minister effectually and profitably and demonstrate to others the love that comes from God. Of the three things that we have in 1 Cor 13, faith, hope, and charity, the greatest of these is charity, v.13.
Therefore, to be effective minsters we need to be charitable. As we have seen before, we also need to be knowledgeable. However, according to 1 Cor 8:1, we need to be aware that knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. This is so important in the ministry. As you have heard many times before, “They will never care what you know, until they know that you care”.
Put on charity. Col 3:14 “And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness”. 1 Pet 4:8 “And above all these things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins”.
Follow after charity. 1 Cor 14:1 “follow after charity”. Let charity lead in your thoughts, actions, words, etc.
Abound in charity. 2 Thes 1:3 “the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth”.
- Timothy 1 Tim 4:12 be an example of the believers in charity.
- Paul 2 Tim 3:10 thou hast fully known my charity.
- Aged men Titus 3:2 be sound in charity.
- Gaius 3 Jn 6 the brethren have borne witness of thy charity.
In early America, missions to the Indians began to thrive when a missionary slept and ate among them in peace. Merely telling them that there was a God or that they needed to keep his commandments was not enough. When they learned that God loved them enough to become a man, die for them, and prepare a home where they could live with him forever, and when they saw the missionary love them the way that God did, then they listened to him and were saved.
In St Croix, when missionaries ended up in the slave prison at the hands of the slave masters, then the slaves began to listen. When they knew that the missionaries would voluntarily endure even prison for them, they saw charity. They knew these men were really interested in them and their souls. Hundreds of slaves were saved as a result.
Conclusion: Live charity so thoroughly that even God would know it, Rev 2:19. Be charitable.