Charity in Ministry

“Let all your things be done with charity.” (I Corinthians 16:14)

As Paul is preparing the closing of his first letter to the church of Corinth, he charges them to do all their things with charity. This was a follow-up to lessons he already gave them in charity earlier in the epistle. “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass and as a tinkling cymbal.” (I Corinthians 13:1)

Charity is a love that stirs to action. It is not simply a warm feeling toward someone; rather, it is the heart behind the work that we do. You may engage in ministry work in the church, but the work should be driven by charity. You may preach or teach, and you may be a talented speaker, but unless you also have charity, you will find that you are ineffective even though you have talent.   

Charity must become our fuel for ministering to both the saints and the lost. What is it that drives you in ministering? Do the results drive you? If this is the case, you will struggle through seasons of less tangible results. Does the approval of your pastor or other members drive you? If this is the case, then you will struggle when the ones you seek approval from are no longer there. Indeed, we must make charity our driving force in ministry. To whom should we show charity?

WE SHOULD SHOW CHARITY TO GOD

 “We love him, because he first loved us.” (I John 4:19) God’s love stirred Him to take action for the sake of our sinful souls. He showed us charity when He purchased our redemption with His blood. Therefore, our love for God should stir us to action for Him as well. We minister before God in appreciation for what He has done. We show Him charity, not because He NEEDS our charity; on the contrary, we NEED Him. Our charity towards God should be a driving force in our serving and ministering. 

WE SHOULD SHOW CHARITY TO THE BRETHREN

“And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.” (I John 4:21) We should have a love for the brethren that stirs us to action. This is charity. What actions can we take for our brethren? We can pray for them. We can help them when they have a need. We can share Scriptures to encourage them. We can be a friend and lend an ear when they need to talk, or a shoulder when they are weak. We should show charity to the brethren. Such charity should be the fuel behind our serving.

WE SHOULD SHOW CHARITY TO THE LOST

“And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” (Jude 1:22-23) While charity is a love that stirs to action, when it comes to those who are unsaved, our charity is expressed by compassion. We should have pity and concern for those who are in danger of the wages of sin. Because of our charity, we should have compassion on them and take action. What is the action? The action is that we should share with them the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This charity should be the fuel for our soul-winning efforts. 

In all our things, let us do them with charity. This is pleasing to the Lord. We must examine ourselves and see whether we do what we do simply as a formality, or out of charity. When charity is the fuel that drives us, we will be stronger and more successful in God’s service. “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.” (I Corinthians 13:8)