Charity: The True Love of Christ

 

                            

Charity is not just an idea—it’s an action. It is the way we show love to family, neighbors, and even those who may have wronged us. From my earliest days, I learned that charity wasn’t optional; it was woven into daily life.

Charity in the Home

Growing up, my father was a volunteer fireman. Whenever the town siren sounded—day or night—he dropped everything to respond. My mother devoted herself to church, community, and youth programs, raising funds to build a pool and recreation center for our town. Their example taught me that true love for others begins at home and in community.

Today, I try to live that lesson in small ways. For example, when my housemates return from work, I pause and listen to their day. Turning off the TV or putting my phone down may seem minor, but those small acts of attention and care are real expressions of Christlike love.

What Charity Really Means

The word “charity” has deep roots. In Latin, caritas means dearness or affection. In Greek, agapē means divine, selfless, sacrificial love. Combined, they capture the spirit of Paul’s timeless words in 1 Corinthians 13:

“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; …
beareth all things, believeth all things,
hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Charity never faileth.”

Charity is not just one virtue among many—it is what binds them all together. As Paul also wrote, “Above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness” (Colossians 3:14).

Charity in Community

In Mosiah 4:26 we read:

“I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor … feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick, and administering to their relief.”

Charity means showing up when others don’t. It can be as simple as fixing a fence, giving a ride, or sitting with someone who feels forgotten.

Charles Dickens once observed that some who devote themselves to charity seek as much excitement as those who live for pleasure. His words made me reflect: do I serve for my own joy, or because Christ’s love compels me? I believe it can be both—service can be deeply fulfilling and deeply Christlike, if joy flows from love.

Charity in Recovery

In recovery, we often say: “The only way to keep something is to give it away.”

As a sponsor, I share my experience, strength, and hope with those struggling against addiction. In doing so, I am kept on the path of recovery myself. St. Francis said it well: “It is in giving that we receive.”

One act of service even led me to the greatest gift of all. While helping a sponsee, I met two missionaries and a local brother who introduced me to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That small act of service changed the course of my life.

The Enduring Power of Charity

Charity transforms both the giver and the receiver. It heals the world and it changes the heart. Moroni taught:

“Charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever” (Moroni 7:47).

And Jesus Christ Himself declared:

“Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40).

Charity is not optional for disciples of Christ—it is essential. It is the essence of His gospel, the highest expression of discipleship, and the bond that holds everything together.

May we live with charity today, in small acts and great ones, and let Christ’s love shine through us.  

In the name sacred of Jesus Christ, Amen