"AND now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity." Thus wrote the apostle after nearly a quarter of a century's experience in teaching mortals the Truth, and exhorting them to "work out their own salvation with fear and trembling." He saw clearly what was needed to enable mortals to "dwell together in unity,"—"bear one another's burdens,"—and demonstrate the power of Truth to heal physically and morally. Were he among us to-day to behold the manifest lack of charity, he would doubtless give utterance to the same words.
Charity, in the fullest and broadest sense, is the one great need of the hour, which divine Love alone can supply. We must have faith [spiritual understanding] so that we may know the Truth and what is required of us, for "without faith it is impossible to please God." Hope is necessary to inspire our efforts and encourage us to work earnestly while we wait patiently for our reward. But what shall we say of charity? Words fail us when we think how much it can do for us; how much we might do for others if Love reigned supreme in our hearts. When we read that remarkable chapter, the thirteenth of First Corinthians, we say, Yes, it is true, "the greatest of these is charity." It does all the apostle says it will do. We need charity more than anything else.
But few are objects of charity in the sense that their material wants are to be supplied by others, yet who does not feel that, in many ways, charity on the part of others would prove a blessing he very much desires? Charity is divine Love made manifest in human thought, word, and deed. Charity ministers to the brother in need, and enriches the giver, because it is "more blessed to give than to receive."
