CHARITY VAUNTETH NOT ITSELF: chapter IV
If we do want to vaunt anything it should be Christ. And in this we esteem others more highly than ourselves to care for the needs of others. So to should we care for the cares that are Christ's.
Romans 11:18 KJV Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
Galatians 2:20 KJV I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Galatians 5:24 KJV And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Philippians 2:21 KJV For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.
So in this for charity we can begin to understand it is not for us to think of ourselves as any kind of importance. In fact scripture also tells us we should let another praise us, but not our own lips.
Proverbs 27:2 KJV Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
For this even consider how a commonly understood charitable act could not be found in true charity. And this with example in scripture through a parable told by Jesus. When a Pharisee vaunts himself in prayer...
Luke 18:10-14 KJV Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. (11) The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. (12) I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. (13) And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. (14) I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
In comparing this Pharisee and publican we see it does not matter how much you give or do, if it be without charity it profits nothing. Which is also according to scripture...
1 Corinthians 13:3 KJV 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.
We will look at this and more to better understand what it is to vaunt ones self, have charity and think on the things of others in this video Bible study.
