Charity: Giving by Showing what is Necessary

'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. 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. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.'

'Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth....' 

(1 Corinthians 13:1-8 KJV)

It is clear that we can exercise the components of the first paragraph without also giving what is necessary by showing what we understand about the second.

'That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not practice the truth: but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.' 

(1 John 1:3-7 KJV)

Charity gives as it understands and walks in the light as it is revealed by the testimony of Jesus Christ and the apostles.

They That Love It

‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.' (Proverbs 18:21 KJV)

'And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.' (John 12:23-25 KJV)

The seed coat protects the heart of the seed. That coat, if not dealt with by the right conditions, will keep the heart from producing any fruit at all. Protection does prevail for that seed until it met with the power of the moist, fertile ground: then what is perceived as protection actually aids in the development of the growth that produces. How do we practice this righteousness?

'But what saith it (the righteousness of faith speaketh!)? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart one believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth CONFESSION IS MADE unto salvation.' (Romans 10:8-10 KJV)

From this day and point in your development in the kingdom of God, confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus: His Lordship over your life. 'I confess you, Lord Jesus! I desire your lordship over my life! He is faithful to show you how to dissolve your protected heart and bring forth useful fruit that glorifies God.