Charity

CHARITY or love is that one word which expresses the accomplishment of everything commanded in the law of God. Rom. 13:10; 1 Tim. 1:5. Sin is that one word which expresses the transgression of everything which the law commands. 1 John 3:4. The most of the commandments simply forbid the commission of certain sins, and many persons suppose that they keep these commandments when they refrain from the outward acts which the commandments forbid. They have kept, as they think, the first commandment, if they have not worshiped any false god. But something more than abstinence from outward transgression is necessary, for Paul says that love is the fulfilling of the law. If love is the fulfilling of the law, then love must be that which the law requires, and consequently that without which we shall stand condemned by the law.

Therefore when the first commandment says, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me," it means not merely that we should refrain from false gods, but that we should cleave to the true God and love him supremely. When the law says, "Thou shalt not kill," it does not mean merely that we should refrain from taking the life of our fellow-men, but it means that we should love our neighbor as ourselves, and that his life should be precious in our sight. It is thus with all the commandments.

The law requires us to love God with all the heart, and soul, and mind, and strength. Deut. 6:5; Matt. 22:36, 37. It is not possible for God to make a higher demand than this. The gospel cannot demand more than this. Those, therefore, who think that the gospel requires something more sacred than the law are wholly mistaken, for the law requires that we love God with every power of our being, and it is impossible that the gospel should require a greater degree of love than this. This is, in fact, the perfect love of which the New Testament speaks. But, on the other hand, the gospel cannot require less love than is required by the law. The gospel cannot say that men shall be saved if they love God with only a part of the heart, for this would be to promise salvation to those who love God in some degree, but who also love the world, and self, and sin. It is therefore evident, that in this respect, there is no difference between the law and the gospel. God requires supreme love in the law, and in the gospel he does not abate this claim in the least degree.

But there are two things in which the gospel differs from the law with respect to this subject of love. The law shows how much love God requires from us, while the gospel shows that God's love toward us is infinite.

Men may ask, "Why should we love God with every power of our being?" The gospel answers this question by revealing the immensity of God's love toward man. The law differs from the gospel in another respect. The law demands supreme love and condemns man for not manifesting it; the gospel also demands supreme or perfect love, and renders to man that assistance which enables him to obey this command. It changes his nature by what is called conversion, the circumcision of the heart, or the new birth; and it bestows on man that degree of grace which is necessary in order that he may love God with all the heart.

Selfishness is the opposite of charity or love. All our troubles arise from selfishness. We imagine that we should be happy if we could have our own way, and if we could secure our own advantage at the expense of others. Selfishness teaches us to look out for our own wants and let others look out for themselves. Selfish people are always unhappy, and they make every one unhappy who is so unfortunate as to be associated with them. Selfishness is the cause of all the trouble in the church, and, in truth, of all the trouble in the world. Selfish people seek to please themselves without regard to what is right. They grieve away from themselves the Spirit of God. They refuse to take reproof when they have done wrong. Nothing can be done with selfish people until they are converted, but they would think it an insult to be told that they needed conversion. It is a miracle of God's grace when one of them is ever converted, and yet without a thorough conversion to God not one of them will ever enter the holy city.

Love banishes selfishness from the heart of man. Where love reigns, envy and jealousy and selfishness are wholly excluded. The man in whom love really dwells seeks not his own interest but the interest of others. Phil. 2:4. The good Samaritan is an example of this love. Luke 10:30-37. He sought the good of one whom he might with some reason have counted his enemy, and he tenderly cared for him. He might have said, "The wounded man is a Jew, and the Jews treat the Samaritans as dogs. I will not kill this man, but I will leave him to his fate." But the Samaritan well knew that this would be to transgress the law of God. He knew that it was not enough to refrain from inflicting injuries upon the wounded man, but that the law also required him to love the man, and the Samaritan possessed and exercised this love.

The life of St. Paul is a wonderful exemplification of that love which the law requires. He felt himself to be a debtor to all mankind, because of the heavenly treasure committed to his trust, and devoted his life to the payment of this debt. Love toward God and toward man governed all his acts. He has described this love in 1 Cor. 13. He says that love suffers long and is kind. 1 Cor. 13:4. But many who call themselves Christians fly into a violent passion and speak bitter words the moment anything displeases them. Such persons are not Christians, and unless they overcome this evil disposition they will be cast into the lake of fire. Paul says that this love does not envy. That is, it is not made unhappy when others prosper more than we do. He says that it does not vaunt itself; that is, is wholly free from a boastful spirit. He says that it is not puffed up; that is, it esteems others better than itself. Phil. 2:3. He also says that it thinks no evil; that is, it is wholly free from the spirit of surmising. This is that excellent love which the law of God commands us to manifest in all the relations of life. Every one that dwells in the new earth will possess this spirit, and none who do not possess it will ever enter the kingdom of God. The chief excellence of that kingdom will be that selfishness will be unknown and that love will be universal and eternal.