CHARITY

The word charity is used in the Bible to mean love. I think most people just associate the word with giving to others. Certainly, giving to others in need is important, but there's so much more. It's all about the love. Look at these wonderful verses - in the King James Version, which uses the word charity for love:

1Co 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
1Co 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
1Co 13:3 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.
1Co 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
1Co 13:5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
1Co 13:6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
1Co 13:7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
1Co 13:8 Charity never faileth:

I highlighted verse 3 because there you can see that giving to others is not enough. Not in God's eyes, anyway. It must be accompanied by love. Those are really challenging verses there. It's all about love. Love matters.