Wednesday’s Musings: Faith, Hope and Charity

Acts 20:35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Yesterday I spent some time reviewing the church financial statements checking to see if all income and expenses were in proper categories. During that process I also compared income for various missions and charities with the checks we have written out. When we have special collections like the Homeless Offering, we like to pass that along in a timely way.  I was so happy to see the generosity of our members. 

I discovered something as I looked for scriptures on charity. 1 Corinthians 13:13 reads in many translations, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”  However in the King James and other older translations, instead of love the word used is charity – “And now there remain faith, hope, and charity, these three: but the greatest of these is charity.”  Charity arises from our love of God’s people.  To use charity instead of “love” in what we often call The Love Chapter gives it a different feel.  This type of love isn’t the eros fall in love mushy kind leading to the weddings where this scripture is often read.  It is an unselfish, giving to others agape love. Now you know, too. It gives us something to ponder whenever we read that scripture.

Holy Lord, thank you for all kinds of love.  Thank you for those who have extended charity to us and bless those to whom we extend charity.  In Jesus’ name. Amen.

As an added bonus – here are the lyrics of a favorite song by Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.

"The Bible Tells Me So"
                          Words and Music by Dale Evans Rogers

Have faith, hope and charity,
That's the way to live successfully.
How do I know, the Bible tells me so.

Do good to your enemies,
And the Blessed Lord you'll surely please,
How do I know, the Bible tells me so.

Don't worry 'bout tomorrow,
Just be real good today.
The Lord is right beside you,
He'll guide you all the way

Have faith, hope and charity,
That's the way to live successfully.
How do I know, the Bible tells me so!