This article is from a message preached on July 2, 1957.

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The hallmark of Christian victory is charity; and the Bible gives us the definition and nature of charity in the thirteenth chapter of 1 Corinthians—that beautiful chapter about love which is as a ray of light shining through a prism that separates the different characteristics, which together form Christian love. It breaks forth with beauties and magnificence; and as the Spirit of God illuminates this portion of Scripture, we see more clearly what God has for us.

The first verse says, “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.” We can see that charity is not merely talk. It is not eloquence or the gift of speech. It is not how we present the truths of God, but it is that which is within the heart. One may speak with great eloquence, but if he is devoid of the love of the Spirit of God, his words are as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal.

The one who has the Spirit of God in his life and who studies the Word (not merely to establish a point of doctrine, but to satisfy his soul that he is walking in all the light of God’s eternal truth), will do so much more for the Lord than one who is merely speaking fluently.

Spectacular words

Verse 2 continues, “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.” That is a tremendous statement. Many today are sweeping people away into false teachings by the thousands. It is a pity that some people who know the truth of the Gospel and who have the light of sound doctrine, let themselves be carried away because of great demonstrations and mass movements.

Some might say that if one has the gift of prophecy, he must be in perfect favor with God. However, one might appear to have the gift of prophecy, but if he does not have charity, the Bible says he still is nothing in the sight of God.

What is charity? Is it “understanding all mysteries”? No. Many who go to the pulpit today and preach on prophecy are mixed up. Some, during the past World War, said certain individuals were going to be the Antichrist. The men who they said would be the Antichrist are dead and gone, and the so-called prophets have had to eat their words because they were wrong in their prophecy. Many people seem to want to know the mysteries of the Kingdom, but it is far better to know the sound way of the Gospel and be sure of our standing before God. Salvation in itself is a mystery. We cannot explain how a sinner is transformed into a child of God in an instant of time.

Charity is not knowledge, for the Apostle said, “Though I have . . . all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.” People have been astounded by what things they have read concerning modern religionists who claim to have accomplished wonderful miracles, but a person may have many abilities and not have that which is all-essential—charity.

Charity is not just almsgiving. One definition of charity is “benevolence” or “giving to the poor,” but that is not the charity spoken of in this chapter. Verse 3 clears up that point: “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor . . . and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.”

Charity defined

If all these things are not charity, what is? Charity is the very essence of Christian living and conduct. The love of God in the heart is the source and wellspring of all true godly love. The one who has God’s love implanted in his soul is going to be able, by the grace of God, to extend charity and thus be pleasing in God’s sight.

The Bible says that love is the fulfilling of the Law and if we have the love of God implanted in our very nature, we will spontaneously keep the Law of God. The Jewish men wore on their heads and arms phylacteries, on which passages of Scripture were written. However, the New Testament standard is the Law written and engraved upon the fleshy tables of the heart by the Holy Ghost, which prompts us to do the things God commands and not do the things God forbids in His Law.

When one reads and understands what charity is, and the nature of it, he will no doubt say, “Lord, give me more of it; give me a baptism of love that will just fill my life with charity to the extent that it will motivate every thought, word, and deed.” That is what will make one worthy of a crown of life.

A high standard

As we continue to analyze this chapter, we recognize its standard of love as that found in a sanctified life. Verse 4 says, “Charity suffereth long.” No matter what comes across our pathway, how many indignities are heaped upon us, how many take action against us, oppose us, slander us, or gossip about us, if we have charity—God’s love in our hearts—we will find that “charity suffereth long.” A good way to find out how much of that quality we have is to note how we respond to the hard things that come our way.

Every Christian is going to be tested and tried. All these trials and conflicts can come to the one who has charity, but he has no reaction of anger, wrath, malice, hatred, retaliation, or anything of the kind. It is a high standard! Nothing less than a sanctified experience!

Let us take the Word into our own hearts, individually, and not say that it is good for someone else. It is good for every soul. The Word of God is a two-edged sword. It cuts both ways. It goes down into the very secret recesses of the heart and shows us exactly where we stand spiritually before God. It is important how we stand before our fellow men, but it is more important how we stand before God.

Enduring grace

Verse 4 continues: “Charity suffereth long, and is kind.” This seems hard for some to put into practice. It is easy for them to say an unkind remark when something has not pleased them; but that spirit of retaliation is an indication of something within that should not be there. Remember, “Charity suffereth long, and is kind.” We endure things and are kind, if we have charity. We take things that are hard on us and we react with prayer and kindness.

It is not always easy to be kind under stress and provocation. It is not easy to show patience and to attribute right motives to people who seem to be otherwise motivated. But God’s Word demands it of His people and He will help us.

As we read more of this definition of charity, we find that it strikes at the very heart of human nature: “Charity envieth not.” Envy and jealousy are so closely related that it is hard to distinguish between the two. They walk hand in hand. A person who is jealous or envious simply cannot stand to see anybody else do something he would like to do, or be assigned to or promoted to the place where he thinks he himself should be. He may not be qualified for that position or be worthy of it. He may not have the gifts and abilities to do it, but that does not make any difference to the one who is jealous or envious. May we let the spiritual virtues penetrate to the very depths of our souls and filter right down into our spiritual beings until we radiate the humility of Christ and are ready to be used or not to be used, ready to speak or not to speak, as God wills!

Verse 4 also says, “Charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.” Sometimes people are proud of what they have done, or what they are going to do. They are vaunting their own ability. Some people try to make themselves the main theme of everything that is said, of every conversation. One should be careful not to exalt himself—not to be puffed up.

Pride, it is said, is a disease that makes everybody sick but the one who has it. Lucifer, the son of the morning, vaunted himself (see Isaiah 14:11-12). That is why he was cast out of Heaven. God hates self-exaltation, self-praise. The sooner one realizes that, the safer he will be from the subtle temptations of the enemy. Satan tempted even Jesus. He showed Him the nations of the world and said, “All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me” (Matthew 4:9). Jesus overcame every temptation. He never vaunted Himself. He was humble in heart. His mind was set to do the will of the Father, regardless of what humiliation came His way. The cup of His suffering was more bitter than that which anyone else ever drank.

The Christian does not behave himself “unseemly” (verse 5). Paul tells us that a Christian has good manners. A man or woman who is really filled with the love of God does not act like the world. He is not forward, rude, or impolite. He does not act in a disorderly manner.

The marked man

A Christian is a marked man or a marked woman. The Psalmist said, “Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace” (Psalm 37:37). He is the one to observe. Mark that person! That is why the Word of God makes it clear that we are to be as a light on a hill that cannot be hidden; or a candle on a candlestick that lights the whole house. It does not matter how small our lights are, there is not enough darkness in the whole world to put them out. The light that burns in the heart of a true Christian—a heart filled with charity—cannot be extinguished by its surroundings.

Charity “seeketh not her own” (verse 5). That is the acid test. Are we selfish, seeking things for our own benefit? How do we walk before our fellow men and before the world? They will measure us by our walk, judge us by our conduct, our conversation, our actions. They measure our motives by what we say and do. Our motives are what count.

The one who has charity is “not easily provoked” (verse 5). How do you react when things come against your soul? You may be actually injured, talked about, scorned, ridiculed, framed. What is the reaction of one who has charity? He is “not easily provoked.”

Forgiving heart

One who possesses charity does not have evil thoughts. He “thinketh no evil” (verse 5). He holds no grudge. It may be that he has been misunderstood. Someone may have misrepresented what he said. What is his reaction? He “thinketh no evil.” He readily forgives. Who had more to forgive than Jesus on the Cross when He lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do”?

Should we think evil of our bitterest enemy—one who has injured us most, one who has said things about us that should not have been said? No! We, as possessors of charity, are not going to let feelings arise within us and injure our spiritual standing in the sight of God. We quickly forgive a wrong done against us. We want people to know that we bear no ill will toward anyone, by the grace of God.

Never-failing love

Charity “rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things” (verses 6-7). If one has the real love of God in his heart, he can put up with a great many things. He can endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Someone may say, “I can’t bear this or that.” But you can if you have the love of God in your heart.

Verse 7 says that charity not only “beareth all things,” it “believeth all things.” It does not question God’s truths. It “hopeth all things.” It “endureth all things.” And when the Word says, “Charity never faileth” (verse 8), neither will we fail if we have in our hearts the charity spoken of in this chapter. If we reach the mark that God has set forth for us in His holy Word, we will have triumphant victory—for “charity never faileth.” Set your sights on the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus. Ask God to put this charity down deep in your soul.

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