There are many things in the Bible that God tells us to do but what is our why?
In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, God tells us to do everything in love. ‘Let all your things be done with charity (or love).’
But what is our motivation?
Do you and I serve God so that He’ll love us or do we serve God because He loves us?
The first brings fear and a burden, the second brings joy and peace.
We only love God because He first loved us. His love for us is perfect and unwavering. Yes we may grieve Him by our sin or our wandering and lusting after the world but His love is unchanging. His love for us if not because of what we have done but because of Christ and His death and resurrection on our behalf.
So then we serve God, not to earn anything but motivated by His great love for us in Christ and from the fountain of His love that dwells in us.
‘Let all your things be done with charity.’
Let’s look for a moment at the word translated ‘charity’.
It’s the Greek word agapē and means ‘affection or benevolence; especially a love-feast: or a feast of charity, dear, love.’
It’s an affectionate, giving love. A love that pours itself out for others. A love that shows the love of Christ to flow through us just as Christ poured out His love for us.
God tells us in the Bible to be a living sacrifice, to take up our cross and follow Him, that our flesh is crucified etc. I often think of it in a picture. Standing like a cross, self crucified, eyes looking up, fixed on Jesus, arms stretched out wide letting the love of Christ flow through us to those around us.
‘Let all your things be done with charity.’
Jesus said…
‘I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.’
So let’s be those that allow the love of Christ to flow through us.
With love
.
1 Cor 16:14, John 17:26