Write Upon My Heart: Charity Character Book

Most people think that charity is just another word for love, but that is not exactly so. Charity has a different definition than love, especially in old dictionaries written at a time closer to when the English word came into use. Though the definition of love would include charity, charity is a specific aspect of love involving good will toward others. Charity is an attitude. It is giving from a completely willing heart, full of sincere brotherly love toward all others. Charity means actively loving others, really loving them from our hearts, and with our hands, and with our money and/or resources.

Another word for charity, which is no longer used, but was used in the times of Jesus, was the word “alms.” Alms means something given freely to the poor such as money or food. Charity is a heart with alms always in readiness.

According to God’s Word, to have charity is very important, because to not have it means pretty much that all I may do in life is worthless. We are plainly told in God’s Word in the book of Colossians “And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” So let’s get busy and begin this very important study on charity!