Charity and the Apostles 1 Corinthians 11-16

1 Corinthians 11-16

In the past few months I have taken the challenge to read and reread the words of our modern day Apostles.  For a few of the prized quotes I used some of my photos to create image meme’s that help to share the deep emotion their words bring.

My quest began with the April 2015 General Conference addresses. As I pondered the varied topics and realized that not one of these men are assigned the topic of their talks but rather speak from their own hearts, my love for these men began to grow. For the first time I saw them as men whose lives have not been without tribulation but rather have been given in service, sacrifice and as examples to the rest of us as how to live in this dispensation of gospel time, how to live midst the trial and difficulties we must all face. 

 

The Apostle Paul who lived almost two thousand years ago said it best,

            

 “ Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”

These men have chosen to be followers of Christ. Their actions, their service, their leadership of family, and their lives of integrity reflect their high moral characters and the true desires of their hearts.  While many of the topics of their talks are universally pertinent, a few could not be found in the indexes of our sacred scripture. Topics such as social media or “The Proclamation on the Family” are distinct to our social time.   As I read their words, my hope returned and I saw that if they could learn to serve our Savior through all of their trials then I could, in this time and place, do the same. While I revere the testimony of the many ancient prophets and their words will forever ring true, the words of the modern day prophets give needed direction for the choices we face in our day and time.

When Paul spoke to the Corinthians, it was if he was speaking at a General Conference. He spoke on the topics that were pertinent to the church during his time. He spoke of the need to preserve marriage (11:3-15), of the accepted length of a woman's hair, reverencing the sacrament ( 11:20-30), of Spiritual gifts (12-14) and of the resurrection.

This past weekend we had the privilege of visiting our daughter’s congregation where she, as the Sunday School Teacher, taught a beautiful lesson. She grabbed the class’s attention by asking what topics of discussion had been covered at the last General Conference of the church and comparing Paul's teachings in Corinthians to a General Conference.  As the class responded I pondered all of the topics I had studied. The list was long and varied.

And I began to marvel at how the Lord in his infinite wisdom has drawn on the diversity of the church to feed and reach those members who seek his love. I thought if only the Prophet had spoken, we would have only learned about temples and the priesthood. No doubt these are pertinent subjects but how many more souls were lifted up by being able to hear about the Young Adults, or integrity, or Elder Teixeira’s talk on  "Seeking the Lord" amidst the myriads of social media distractions. I am always amazed at how at least one or two talks seem to be directed at my life and serve to answer to the  difficulties I am facing.

My daughter’s genuine smile is large and contagious. As she led our class through the many lessons of Paul she kept reminding us of the upcoming October conference and how once again we will have the privilege of hearing wise words of our Apostles meant for our day. As she taught I felt her joy for the gospel and I felt gratitude for the grace of God that we have such a church which gives us not only instruction for our day, but opportunities for growth and learning. 

I truly felt God’s charity for me and my family. As I enjoyed the lengthy class discussion on charity and the many other gifts of the spirit, I found a renewal of my faith to seek charity within myself and share it with others in my family and social circles.

Paul’s words on charity remind us that of all the gifts this is the most prized. Why?

It has to do with how charity changes both the giver and the receiver. While the gift of tongues bridges cultural communication gaps, it cannot change hearts the way charity can. And while some are given to wisdom and others knowledge, miracles, or prophecy all of these call attention to the bearer of the gift, but charity alone gives back what it receives and bonds the giver to the receiver. Still, all gifts, like all parts of the body are needed.

I love to think about how charity brings us closer to God, for we truly cannot have charity without having a relationship with God. We need God’s love to help us suffer long, to be kind, especially in difficult or negative relationships, to find contentment in our possessions and social situations, to not puff ourselves up. Charity teaches us to be humble and to be strong in the midst of provocation. It teaches us to think only good, even when evil is present. We may recognize the evil, but we choose to think only good.

Charity rejoices in truth and through the power of he atonement learns to bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, and endure all things.

Paul goes on to say that prophecies and tongues, and knowledge may cease but charity never faileth. 

And that is when I realized that from the Apostles at General Conference I found charity. Charity for my weakness for they have had to live through their own. Charity for my lack of knowledge for I am still a toddler in the gospel. Charity for my wisdom for I err in my judgment often. Charity is the gift that the Lord Jesus Christ gives us when he instructs and nurtures us. 

 

Now as we begin to prepare for yet another conference of topics that come from the heart of these chosen men of God, I will look for answers to my prayers that these men will speak to our day yet again. And that they will borrow from the wisdom of the ages and the experience of this day and age and give me the guidance to help me follow them, even as they follow Christ.

1 Timothy 4: 7-16 exercise unto godliness

Exercise unto godliness.

My heart was breaking. I had arisen at 5:30 so that I could get my three mile run in before waking the children for their school day. As I quietly slipped from the house, my eleven year old fifth grader followed me to the front  door and begged me to take her.

 She cried and pleaded. “Please Mommy, Let me come. I will keep up you will see. I am fast.”

I turned to hug her, gave her a squeeze, and trotted off to find my rhythm as I began my loop through the neighborhood. I was well into the last leg of my run before the image of her sad face pressed up to our glass door left me. It tugged at my heart and slowed my race. Little did I know that the day would come when she would run and win many a race. She would win state titles and break records. She was fast and she knew it. But the race does not always go to the swiftest nor he who exercises the most or the hardest.  Sometimes it is more about the heart of discipline.

Paul was an older man who had lived a hard life. He spoke often of the pain in his side and other ailments that burdened him. Timothy was a younger man. I presume he was an athlete who ran races. ( I have run a good race 2 Timothy 4:7) The letters that Paul writes to Timothy reflect this difference in age.   

In my youth and as a mother of a large family,  I ran three  miles almost every day. It refreshed my soul, bridled my energy, and balanced my hormonal surges. Exercise helped me maintain my strength, my posture, my endurance, my health, and my happiness. I value my ability to exercise daily and strike a balance to my day. But exercise can be like a drug. That high you get when you hit your first “wall”, begins to stretch itself out farther and farther from your goal. Your times get faster, your distances longer, and before you know it you are addicted to the routine of training. It overshadows all other areas of your life.

I wonder if Timothy didn’t train hard for  races. Paul often uses images of racing when he writes Timothy. In preparing for this essay, I found an excellent (really excellent) sermon on this. It called Running the Race of Faith and its from a 1995 sermon from a pastor in Massachusetts. It’s worth the read, especially if you enjoy running. 

Paul wants us to understand that while exercise is good for the body and the soul, the body will wear out. The time will come when you will not be able to use your hips, your knees, or your feet. 

Unlike the body, your soul does not wear out. It lives eternally. But like your body, you can train your soul to run in a race of godliness.  “Godliness profiteth unto all things.” Paul is trying to help Timothy understand that while exercise is good, moderation is better, and the exercise of the spiritual matters is the best use of your time. Why? Because it will bring the greatest eternal rewards.

  Just like exercise, our faith needs to work hard. It should accept the reproach from our lack of faith and trust in the Living God.  Faith should not be despised because of youth (inexperience) but should be an example to all. 
We can be an example by speaking God's word, by keeping our conversations pure and clean, by giving charity to others, sharing a good spirit, building our faith, and showing forth the purity of our soul and of our purpose. 


Faith like exercise must be worked at. We must read God's word daily. Give a good spirit to others daily, keep our hearts and minds pure daily, and endure the race daily. 


I am very proud of my young daughter who saw the joy that the exercise of her body would bring, but I am even greater to realize that the she also understands the greater eternal joy that the exercise of her faith will bring. 

"So Do" 1 Timothy

"So Do"

To my own son,

a man

in the faith

of God our Father

and Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Of faith, make

not a shipwreck.

Have "no other doctrine"

steer your course.

Let not "what they say"

hold wind

to your sail.

To the fable's teacher,

question a destination.

To the endless genealogies,

turn from the power of their tale.

Know that these teachers'

vain janglings

hold no power of place,

And bend from the law

that bestows a course

of both mercy and grace.

From their

fruitless jabberings,

turn aside.

Remember

that charity,

from a pure heart

doth unfeigned faith abide.

Turn your hearts course,

back to faith's pattern,

let it tack across God's

open ocean.

Ministry with

a good conscience

play upon the wave of His law

with the steadiest of

emotion.

Set your sextant

upon the light

of God's brightest star.

Charge all who would

sail with you

to defend the truth

and war a good war.

Teach them that the law is not

meant to set fear to mutiny's race,

but to serve them

with edification's

of God's mercy and grace.

Hold strong to your pattern of faith,

let its course set you,

upon a steady current

of long suffering hope.

Keep,
my own son,

the King Eternal,

the only true and wise God

for ever and ever

within your scope.

Copyright Linda Conkey Shaw Sept 23 2010

Words and Phrases 

vs 1 which is our hope - Paul is writing a letter to Timothy.. He, as an apostle of Jesus Christ offers hope through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and God our Savior 

vs 2 my own son - Timothy was born of a Greek mother and Paul had all but adopted him "in the faith." This verse serves as a salutation to him and offers his well wishes of grace, mercy and peace. 

vs 3 teach no other doctrine - an apostasy had begun in the church. With Paul no longer there to oversee the affairs, the teachings, and the administration of the church other's had put their words, ideas, and teachings into circulation. 

vs 4 fables - long winded stories were the known vehicle of passage of tales and teaching. The written word was scarce and the education of people depended greatly upon those that could retell a story. As time would have it the "teachings" would be tweaked and changed to make it more enjoyable, more believable, or just more entertaining. What might have started as a true account through the passage of many tellings ends up becoming a fable. 

vs 4 endless genealogies - those that have carried the power in the past sought to retain the power in the future through the recitation of their genealogical ties to greatness. It worked because of the power of intimidation and awe that accompanied the fables and tales. 

vs 4 godly edifying which is in faith - faith brings edification not doubt. Faith uplifts ones soul and casts no doubt upon the good name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith must be adhered to by the law of Moses. 

 vs 4 so do: be sure to edify through faith in all of your teachings. Do not use fables, nor hierarchies of genealogies but rather lift up those by strict adherence to God's law. 

vs 5 the commandment - speaks that faith comes from charity of a pure heart. Real faith speaks of a good conscience and pure desire to do good. 

vs 5 faith unfeigned - real faith. 

vs 6 vain jangling - unproductive speaking. Words that have no purpose or direction.

vs 7 desiring to be teachers - many have tried to teach God's law, but those that teach it in truth have had experience with God's grace and mercy and can speak of experience. These that must be teachers must understand what they say and affirm what they teach by the power of faith within them. 

vs 8 - law is good - God's law of Moses is good when used correctly. 

vs 9-10 law is not made for righteous - Law of Moses is a standard set in place to help those that do not understand God's mercy and grace find his love and faith. By measuring their lives against the law, they can correct their behavior and find place in his love. The law is for those who are unrighteous so that they might be made aware of their errant attitudes. 

vs 11 committed to my trust -Paul was entrusted in the keeping of the gospel. It was given to him to keep it pure and clean and true so that those who went to it to find a relationship with Jesus might be able to do so. 

vs 12-15 counted me faithful - Notwithstanding all that Saul did... God entrusted Paul to the ministry. 

vs 16 - for a pattern - We look to those who live contemporary lives for examples of how we might obtain mercy, grace, faith and life everlasting. 

vs 18 war a good warfare - the battle has begun to not only keep the faith, but to keep the faith pure and clean of fables, of exaggerations, of falsehoods, and of power. Paul has entrusted the church at Ephesus. 

vs 19 faith have made shipwreck - there are those who have destroyed the faith by introducing all that is pagan and false. They do so because of their love of teaching, but they don't understand what they teach or how they will lead astray those that seek to know the truth.