New Reminders: Charity

According to Wikipedia, the word “charity” can refer to a charitable organization which is “an organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and spreading social well-being.” The legal definition of a charitable organization varies between countries and in some instances regions of the country.”  In the USA a charitable organization is often defined as having a C3 designation. Charity, as a verb, is an action performed out of kindness, generosity, sympathy or empathy for an individual or group who are in need. It involves giving of oneself or of one’s resources to help a person or a group of people or animals who are suffering. 

In the bible, charity may be written as “agape” translated as “love that seeks the well-being of others", like Christ's love for humanity, going beyond mere affection or giving to the needy. It's the highest form of love, a virtue of the heart that motivates actions like feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and showing compassion, making it the "bond of perfectness" 1 Corinthians 13. Modern translations often use the word "love" for agape, but the King James Version uses the word "charity" emphasizing active, sacrificial, God-given love. Corinthians 13 describes charity as “patient, kind, not envious, not proud, bearing all things, believing all things, hoping all things, and enduring all things.”  Caring for the needy involves tangible acts of mercy, such as feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, and clothing the naked as described in Matthew 25. 

For some people, charity might conjure up some negative connotations. Some people think that, accepting charity is a sign of weakness or slothfulness. It might be equated to not being able to be resourceful enough or willing enough to earn one’s own way and deliberately depending on others for a handout. While there might be some people who make bad choices and take advantage of the generosity of others, but that should not stop us from ministering to the needs of all of God’s children in whatever way we can.   We need to remember that “all have sinned and fallen short” even we ourselves. Jesus did not discriminate and neither should we, His followers. Those who need help because of their own errant actions may need more or different kinds of help, but they too deserve our help (charity) and not our judgement. May God help us to see all of God’s creatures as worthy of His grace and our best efforts to do His will in the form of love and charity towards all.