Charity

From my calendar today, 1 Corinthians 4:13, “Charity suffereth long, and is kind, charity envieth not; charity  vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.” When I go to my Bible I’m currently studying, a New King James version the word charity is replaced with love. Wait a minute I messed up that is 13:4.  Oh, well to the dictionary I go. Charity is defined as, “The providing of help to the poor, spiritual benevolence; brotherly love.” Love is defined as, “A deep devotion or affection for another.” Well I’m in 1 Corinthians 4 now and I can’t get away from it. The fourth chapter of 1 Corinthians is one of the most poetic and beautiful writings in the Bible. It starts out, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I have become a clanging cymbal.” What you do overshadows your words every time.
    How about 4:4, “Love suffers long and is kind, love does not envy, love does not parade itself, is not puffed up, does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked..........hopes all things endures all things.” The Lord has already spoke to me about being provoked and what I said to one that I love. I have found that the statement, “you always hurt the one you love, the one you shouldn’t hurt at all,” is too often true. At that very moment when I said, shut up, I knew I was wrong in what I said. The  one I love dearly was hurt. Love does not seek to harm! Looks like one of those beat up Billy mornings.
    How about 4:8, “Love never fails.” have you had those times when you have tried numerous times to love the situation away. You find yourself beyond your comfort zone, yet you press on trying, wishing that in some way your love will change the heart of that one you love dearly. You see issues, you lovingly provide them support, they don’t change, and you keep on trying. Love can be very frustrating, making demands on you that you would not give time too for yourself, yet because of love you endure.
    What about 4:11, “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child, but when I became a man I put away childish things.” Wow, that one thing could change so many difficult moments in relationships. So often age has little to do with how one acts. Far too many times our childish attitudes carry over into adulthood. Your remarks can hurt or support love. Your actions are often better communicators of what you have in your heart. Where are my steel toed shoes?
    I continue 4:12, “For now we see through a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.” I’m convinced that we know so little in His great scheme of things. The why’s, the mysteries, the evil ways man conducts their lives, even my own responses at times, will someday be revealed. While I constantly press on toward the mark I know how far I miss it. My love has yet to reach maturity.  I pray for his guidance and patience.     
    The last verse says, “And now abide faith, hope and love, these three, but the greatest of these is love.” Well my mistake placed me in the scripture I needed today. Sometimes in our quests in life we forget love. I pray that Jesus will continue to be my guide in my pursuit's; He alone is the example. Jesus said, “Greater love has no man then to lay down their life for a friend.” He’s been there, done that, and forever will be our example of perfect love. Thank you Father.

Bill