The Pure Love of Christ

Yesterday I taught a lesson for Relief Society on charity, and with Easter finally in sight, I wanted to share some of my thoughts with you.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:12-13).

What a blessing it is to know that we can count ourselves among the Savior’s friends. And we are not alone. Every person who ever has or ever will live upon this earth can count the Savior as a friend. Thinking about that great truth, I couldn’t help asking myself how many can count me as friend. Am I equally available to all comers? Or does my charity have special rules and regulations attached to it? In short, how much of my charity is not charity at all but merely kind deeds, easily offered to the people I find enjoyable and/or deserving? Is my love and attention based upon my own need to give to the people I love, or is it focused on the needs of others (friends or strangers), who have need of me? These are interesting (perhaps unsettling) questions, but I think there is great benefit in asking them...eternal benefit, for us and for others.

It’s unlikely that we will be called upon to lay down our lives as Jesus did, but the opportunity is ours to lay down our hearts in loving and serving our brothers and sisters here on earth. Charity, the very essence of Christ, demands it.

We all know the story of the Good Samaritan. His path, unlike those of others in that scripture, was paved with charity.

“A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise” (Luke 10:30-37).

"Do thou likewise." This was the Lord’s counsel, and I want to increase my ability and willingness to act upon it. Every one of us can be Samaritans in other peoples’ lives, even (and especially) those with whom we have little in common...those who make us uncomfortable...those who are dirty and laying by the road.

What opportunities to be charitable have I missed recently? How can I and others become more like this Good Samaritan, who took no thought except to give help where help was needed? We can refuse to judge, resolve never to let fear stop us, and remind ourselves that schedules and other “things” are far less important than people. We can resist the temptation to rest on our laurels, telling ourselves “others will do it.” We can remind ourselves that the Savior did not pick and choose among potential recipients of His offerings.

I was inspired by an experience shared by a Japanese woman named Yuka on an inspirational website called helpothers.org. It occurred shortly after the earthquake and tsunami, when she and others had been waiting many hours for a train. She said, “I was waiting at the platform, so tired and exhausted. A homeless person came to us and gave us a cardboard to sit on. Even though we usually ignore them in our daily life, they were ready to serve us.”

This story went straight to my heart, because charity is harder to exercise when we’re in dire straits ourselves. It becomes all too easy to opt out, using our own suffering or deprivation as a ready and seemingly reasonable excuse. But remember the story of the widow’s mite? She gave when she had nothing, because she knew the secret: that the Lord will give back to us more than we could ever give. Perhaps it takes a humble heart to understand this concept...a heart like this homeless hero in Japan possessed.

Of course, charity is more than giving; it’s forgiving. I’ll always remember a woman whose son was killed in a car accident while she was away on vacation. Apparently, the boy in the driver’s seat that night had been reckless, speeding and showing off in front of his friends. As a result of his carelessness, her 17-year-old son was dead. Returning as quickly as a plane could take her, one of her first acts was to go to that boy’s home and take him in her arms. Naturally, he was devastated, and her words of forgiveness were like balm to his soul…and the souls of his grieving parents. As she left, she reminded him that he needed to enjoy his life to the very fullest now because he would be doing it for both of them (his friend and himself). She later learned that these words gave the young man a sense of purpose that helped bring him out of the depths of despair and depression that followed. He clung to the idea of living a good life for his friend. How many mothers would be so generous as to be there in those very first days, before that young man’s feelings of self-loathing could take hold and flourish? What a great example of charity she was and is.

Surely it is not ours to decide whether someone "really deserves" our charity or not. If we have taken care of our own family’s needs first, wouldn't the Lord have us help all the people placed by Him in our path? In this way, we will be more like our Father in Heaven, who causes rain to fall on the just and on the unjust alike.

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:43-48).

True charity is soul deep. It is no respecter of persons. It is fueled by the Spirit of God in our hearts and minds. Charity sees the best and not the worst in people. It is color and class and circumstance blind. It views others as God views them and loves without reservation. Merely giving, in the absence of true empathy and compassion, is not charity.

I love the question President Eyring asked in a general conference talk recently: "Have we done any good in the world today? Have we helped anyone in need?" Charity isn’t a bother or a burden or a duty. It’s a formula for happiness…our own and others'. "What a prescription for contentment and inner peace it is to have inspired gratitude in another human being" (Eyring).

It occurs to me that charity should be marketed! After all, it’s the best anti-depressant ever. And it’s all free!! Maybe that’s why our prideful world doesn’t value it enough.

Charity, the pure love of Christ, brings us together. Self-centeredness leaves us alone. Will we walk the lonely path? Or will we come unto Christ and belong to and with Him? The choice, as always, is ours.

Charity Is Love

©2011 Susan Noyes Anderson

Charity is love, pure love...

a sacred gift from up above

that brightens every day we live,

empow’ring us to lift, forgive

and serve each other, come what may,

in Jesus Christ’s appointed way.

It enters hearts that open wide,

bidding the Savior’s light inside

to soothe and heal, to warm and bless

with goodness, peace, and happiness.

Feathered in hope and lofty things,

borne on the grace that giving brings…

charity is love, with wings.

I hope I can find the compassion to give my love wings...this Easter season and beyond.