Never ending kindness

“And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” (1Pe 4:8 AV)

 

The word ‘fervent’ has several meanings.  There are occurrences where the word means intense.  As in fervent heat.  However, in our passage, the word means, “without ceasing; never-ending; without interruption”.  The idea is charity among the saints should be continuous and without end.  The word for ‘charity’ means, “affection; benevolence”.  Charity is different than generosity in that charity does not expect a return.  No thank you.  No reciprocation.  Nothing.  Charity is kind and benevolent with no regard for future results.  Forgiveness can be a form of charity, but charity is not limited to forgiveness.  Charity can take many forms.  There is the sharing of one's material goods.  That would be obvious.  Another is grace towards another’s faults.  Or it would be charitable to rejoice with those who rejoice or mourn with those who mourn.  There are many ways in which charity can manifest itself.  The point is this charity should be fervent.  It should be without ceasing.  In other words, charitableness should be the standard demeanor of the believer.  Love should be our primary emotion and action.  Charity should be who and what we always are.

Charity is in short supply.  At least in our day.  Or, at least that is what we are led to believe.  Yet there are encouraging signs that would beg to differ.  I read a community website that shares concerns with those in surrounding zip codes.  For the most part, responses to concerns are charitable.  Usually, posts inform the readers of suspected suspicious behavior.  Most of the responses share concern and well wishes.  Very few are totally nasty.  For the most part, people do care and want to resolve issues most peaceably and fairly as possible.  Even if some comments are misguided, and not founded in reality, the intent was still there.  Most people are not naturally charitable.  At least fervently so.  However, if there is a genuine need or a sense of empathy toward the suffering of another, then charity is not uncommon.  As people, we can feel something for the situation of another.  More or less.  It is just not naturally so.  The situation has to be extreme.  Very few people are so cold as to never be affected by the suffering of another.  However, our world is rapidly approaching this possibility.  As we are persuaded to think more and more narcissistically, our concern for the situation of others becomes less and less.  We are being persuaded to define life as what it means to self, first.  We are segregated.  We are pitted one against another.  We are being told that our fellow human beings should be perceived as a threat rather than potential acquaintances.  We are being manipulated into seeing one another in the darkest of light rather than with optimism and hope.  The saints ought not to follow that road.

Each individual, no matter their case, has value to God.  Each soul is a soul for whom Christ died.  Yes, we are not to be naive.  We are not to assume our fellow man could never do us any harm.  We are to be cautiously aware and be prepared to take responsible action if need be.  But that doesn’t mean each person should be approached that way.  This spirit of criticism and suspicion should have no place in the body of Christ.  The saints should go out of their way to share the love of Christ with one another.  There should be no ill will toward another.  I have ten brothers and sisters.  We are unique in our own way.  We all have strange ideas or values when compared to others.  But that does not mean we treat one another with a spirit of criticism or suspicion.  When we can get together, it is for fellowship and nostalgia.  Not for attacks or ill feelings.  Life is too short.  The body of Christ should be a place for fervent charity.  It should be a place for charity that never ceases.  Never-ending kindness for everyone.