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If I Have Not Charity

  "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. 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. 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." 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
 
 
   Charity- without it we cannot truly serve God. Without His love, it doesn't matter how many languages I could speak, or how fluently; how much I understand about scripture; how much money I give to God's cause; how much even of myself I give; how well I can draw; how well I could play an instrument or how well I could sing, or anything else I could do. It isn't in a flurry of activity that love for God is shown- it is in the motives ruling those actions, "for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7. And yet, I know that all too often I do not do things for the right motives.
  As well, it isn't how much we do that counts with God, either. Didn't Jesus greatly commend the poor widow for casting into the temple treasury a mere two mites? With Him, the motive counts more. I can give thousands to missions and charitable causes, but does that count if I have not love? No- the Pharisees cast in large sums, but have they inspired any to follow their example? Has their money posthumously increased? No, but the poor widow's has. Her example has inspired countless others to follow in her steps. What made the difference? Love for God.
  It's the same with winning others to Christ. All the preaching, teaching, and warning will avail nothing without God's love and the power of the Holy Spirit. I need more of His love and the Holy Spirit in my own life. May God grant it to me, and you, too!

 

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