I Peter 4:8- “And Above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”
I John 4:8-10- “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
We as Christians may sometimes get too focused on having a special gift or talent that will separate us from the rest of the world. Purpose driven people naturally desire to be unique and authentic. We all may have a desire to leave a lasting mark or impression on the world in which we live. Purpose driven individuals seek to live their lives to their full potential. Many Christians oftentimes feel as if they have nothing to give to the world. Jesus, the greatest gift of all, has already been given to a sinful and dying world. You may not have the ability to give generous amounts of money to God-focused charities that help the poor, needy, abused, abandoned, and disabled. You may not have the vocal ability to uplift, comfort, and encourage the people of God through song. You may not have a fancy job title or highly esteemed position within the church or even the workplace. You may feel as if your contribution to society is too small to even be noticed or to have any influence or impact on anyone. That is not so in God’s economy. That one lost sheep that you helped bring to Christ, means more to our savior than the already 99 saved. “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance,” (Luke 15:7).
I too, have had my discouraging days, where I believed that my day-to-day activities as a stay-at-home mom and homeschool teacher weren’t enough to make a difference in anyone’s life. I believed that my scope of impact was limited, because I could only impact those in my home. However, I failed to recognize that the charitable deeds that I rendered in service to those in my home are the greatest impact that I can have on the world. Loving and serving others first begins in the home. For the Bible says: “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel,” (I Timothy 5:8). I must be a good representative of Christ and his love for the church in my own home before I can represent Christ well outside of my home environment. There is no room for hypocrisy in God’s kingdom.
We all have a unified purpose and that is the great command to love God and to love others. Even though our purpose is the same, we may have different avenues through which we fulfill this great mission, this great command: to love. Our greatest calling in life is to live a life of charity or love. “Jesus said unto him, thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets,” (Matthew 22:37-40). “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently,” (I Peter 1:22).
“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour,” (Ephesians 5:1-2). Colossians chapter three verses 12-14 tells us how to walk in charity. “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness,” (Colossians 3:1214).