The accuser of the brethren is always at work but he is only active when we participate. We participate when we give ear to gossips. Spread gossips. Give each other a piece of our mind. Revel in the failures of one another. Claim a right when we are right. Claim a right when we are wrong. The accuser of the brethren revels in all these things. Remember he accuses us to one another and even before God. Job 1:9 lays the accusation brought against Job succinctly. “Doth Job fear God for nought?”
Job 1:6-8
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.
7 And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
8 And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME
I have heard it said several times “charity begins at” but I have not really given it much thought. However, God brought it to my attention when He put it this way, “You are willing to spend on strangers but unwilling to spend on family.” I was convicted in my spirit and looked for excuses, but found none. God followed up by directing me to 1 Corinthians 13:2 which makes it clear that “If I do not take care of home first, then I am nothing”.
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. 1 Corinthians 13:2.
Charity must begin with my family members and my friends. It is not only on the day of calamity that I should visit my brother or sister and then try to pray with them. By then it may be difficult for us to agree and thus our prayers may not be effective. Matthew 18:19. With charity, I edify my family. 1 Corinthians 8:1.
Although it might be difficult, I just have to develop the habit of praying with my family including my spouse, my parents, my children, and my siblings. Matthew 18:20. As I pondered on this difficulty, God said to me, “The difficulty can be overcome, for with Me nothing shall be impossible”. Luke 1:37. You see it is important that we pray together, for a family that prays together, stays together and their children will not depart from the way of the Lord. Proverbs 22:6.
I asked God, what is charity? He answered me saying, “it is patience, kindness, not being easily provoked, thinking of good always.” I was startled, how can anyone be all these things. God quietly answered, “But I am not finished… it is when you do not rejoice in the misfortune of others, you are always positive, you bear things with calmness”. God added “you must be consistent in all things good because charity never fails”. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.
When I show the charity of honour to my parents, God makes me two promises, to give me land and also long life to enjoy the land. Exodus 20:12.
I am commanded to show charity to my friend, my father’s friend, and my family members. Proverbs 27:10. In all these, charity must begin at home. Even in the old age of my parents, I must hear the instruction of my father and follow the law of my mother. Proverbs 1:8. This in itself is charity because charity is love and obedience. Because of charity, I obey the instructions of my father. Because of charity, I follow the law of my mother.
I then pondered out loud, “but God, I have faith in you, I have hope in your Word, and I have shown charity to my family”. God simply stated, “Of faith, hope, and charity, the greatest is charity”, 1 Corinthians 13:13, “for without it you are nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:2.
Action Steps
- I will do all things with charity – 1 Corinthians 16:14
- I will put on charity so I can achieve the bond of perfectness – Colossians 3:14
- News of my charity will spread far and will be brought before men of God – 1 Thessalonians 3:6
- I will forgive those who trespass against me because of my charity for them. Matthew 6:12.
- I will cover the multitude of sins against me with charity so I can easily forgive them. 1 Peter 4:8.
- Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. 1 Corinthians 14:1
- Let all your things be done with charity. 1 Corinthians 16:14
- And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. Colossians 3:14
- But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you. 1 Thessalonians 3:6
- We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth. 2 Thessalonians 1:3
- Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned. 1 Timothy 1:5
- Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety. 1 Timothy 2:15
- Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12
- Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the
- Lord out of a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:22
- But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience. 2 Timothy 3:10
- That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. Titus 2:2
- And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8
- Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. 1 Peter 5:14
- And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 2 Peter 1:7
- Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well. 3 John 1:6
- These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots. Jude 1:12
- I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. Revelation 2:19
Brother A. M. Archibong Esq.