Charity, Beautiful Virtuous Charity

No one can argue with selfless charity. It’s a Tiny Virtue that blesses everyone.

Thank God that somewhere in the final days of the election season where everyone seems to be at odds with everyone else, a beautiful “cluster virtue” residing in the will that we can all agree upon still exists: the generous, selfless, charitable attitude toward those less fortunate.

2 Corinthians 8: 7 But just as you excel in everything– in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us–see that you also excel in this grace of giving…9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

I could go on at length, but I know some people may be tired of hearing about virtues and really want to get back to political infighting and character assassination, so I’ll keep it brief.

There was a woman named Tabitha who was also known as Dorcas (Acts 9:36-42). She’s listed as a disciple and did beautiful acts of charity for others. She died and the story unfolds: Acts 9:39 All the widows stood around Peter, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

Tabitha (Dorcas), known for her charity, is one of the few people brought back to life from the dead recorded in our New Testament.

What story would she have told us about the life after death and what she saw? What she learned about her life? What she learned about the value of charity?

I wonder if God raised her back to life…intentionally (of course!) in order to show us that acts of charity have an impact upon others we may not see during our lifetimes. Acts of charity are extraordinarily life-giving for the days of our lives and have a reward far beyond the time when our souls break free from the steely bonds of this tender earth.

Ponder today: the eternal reward of charity and the joy one knows this side of heaven for doing them.

Bible character of the day: Tabitha