The Text
What Charity Means
Something is spoken of as of special importance, and as peculiarly essential in Christians, which the apostle calls charity. And this charity, we find, is abundantly insisted on in the New Testament by Christ and his apostles — more insisted on, indeed, than any other virtue.
But the word charity, as used in the New Testament, is of much more extensive signification than as it is used generally in common discourse. What persons very often mean by charity in their ordinary conversation is a disposition to hope and think the best of others, or a disposition to give to the poor. But these things are only certain particular branches or fruits of that great virtue of charity which is so much insisted on throughout the New Testament. The word properly signifies love, or that disposition or affection whereby one is dear to another; and the original agape which is here translated charity, might better have been rendered love, for that is the proper English of it. So that by charity in the New Testament is meant the very same thing as Christian love.
Love to God
Love will dispose our hearts to submission to the will of God, for we are more willing that the will of those we love should be done than of others. True love to God will dispose the heart to acknowledge God’s right to govern, and that he is worthy to do it, and so will dispose to submission. Love to God will dispose us to walk humbly with him, for he that loves God will be disposed to acknowledge the vast distance between God and himself. It will be agreeable to such a one to exalt God, and set him on high above all, and to lie low before him. A true Christian delights to have God exalted on his own abasement, because he loves him.
Love to Our Neighbours
A due consideration of the nature of love will show that it also disposes men to all duties towards their neighbours. If men have a sincere love to their neighbours it will dispose them to all acts of justice towards those neighbours — for real love and friendship always dispose us to give those we love their due and never to wrong them.
Love will dispose men to meekness and gentleness in their carriage toward their neighbours, and not to treat them with passion or violence or heat of spirit; but with moderation and calmness and kindness. It will check and restrain everything like a bitter spirit; for love has no bitterness in it, but is a gentle and sweet disposition and affection of the soul. It will prevent broils and quarrels, and will dispose men to peaceableness and to forgive injurious treatment received from others; as it is said in Proverbs 10:12, Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.
The Exhortation
If love is so great a thing in Christianity, so essential and distinguishing, yea, the very sum of all Christian virtue, then surely those that profess themselves Christians should live in love and abound in the works of love, for no works are so becoming as those of love. If you call yourself a Christian, where are your works of love? If this divine and holy principle is in you and reigns in you, will it not appear in your life in works of love? Consider what deeds of love you have done. Do you love God? What have you done for him, for his glory, and for the advancement of his kingdom in the world?
Do not make an excuse that you have not opportunities to do anything for the glory of God, for the interest of the Redeemer’s kingdom, and for the spiritual benefit of your neighbours. If your heart is full of love, it will find vent; you will find or make ways enough to express your love in deeds. When a fountain abounds in water it will send forth streams. Consider that as a principle of love is the main principle in the heart of a real Christian, so the labour of love is the main business of the Christian life. May the Lord dispose you to such an excellent, amiable, and benevolent life, that you may not love only in word and tongue, but in deed and truth.