Weekly Words of Encouragement Vol 2, Issue 8

Good Morning all,
I hope and trust that everyone has had a good week thus far. Today's thought comes from what has been noted as the love chapter of the Bible, I Corinthians 13. The Apostle Paul opens the chapter by saying: "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." I Corinthians 13:1. Basically he is telling us that even if he spoke the greatest words ever heard on the face of the planet, but had not 'charity', his speaking is but noise and clamor.

How can these words encourage us? What can be taken from Paul's admonition that will better serve our life and fellow mankind? The simple answer is actually found in the meaning of the word charity. It is true that it means ‘love’, but more than the common definition of the word. We all ‘love’ things and people, I love coffee, but that’s not going to benefit those around me (except Starbucks and McCafe).

Charity is the act of love exercised without expecting anything in return. It is agape love, a sacrificial love. We can exercise this on a daily basis, even in times when it is the hardest. We live in a world with an entitlement mentality where everyone feels as if they are owed something. But when is the last time we actually pondered how much we owe others. The words we use throughout the day, the way we speak one to another, even the way we drive to and from the office. Each one of these steps can be taken in a manner of charity by placing the feelings and benefits of others before our own. Paul understood this, after writing unto the Corinthians, several years later he wrote to the Christians in Rome saying: "I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise." Romans 1:14.
Maybe you are asking "how does this encourage me?” When we place the needs of others at the forefront of our lives, we find that we begin to encourage those around us, once you experience encourage someone else that in of itself will encourage us.

Today may be the day, that charity exhibited in your life changes the direction in the one you expect it least. “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” I Corinthians 13:13

I hope you have a wonderful day.