Charity and its fruits - Edwards - III - Lecture III

Required reading
Charity and its fruits by Jonathan Edwards (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Lecture III (The greatest performances or sufferings in vain without charity).

My summary
Edwards thesis in this chapter is that all men can do, and all that they can suffer, can never make up for the want of sincere Christian love in the heart.

Firstly we are taught that there may be great performances, and so there may be great sufferings, without sincere Christian love in the heart.

Secondly Edwards asserts that whatever men may do or suffer, they cannot, by all their performances and sufferings, make up for the want of sincere love in the heart.  This is for the following reasons:
(i) it is not the external work done, or the suffering endured, that is, in itself, worth anything in the sight of God;
(ii) whatever is done or suffered, yet if the heart is withheld from God, there is nothing really given to him;
(iii) this love or charity is the sum of all that God requires of us;
(iv) if we make a great show of respect and love to God, in the outward actions, while there is no sincerity in the heart, it is but hypocrisy and practical lying unto the Holy One;
(v) whatever may be done or suffered, if there be no sincerity in the heart, it is all but an offering to some idol.

To conclude, Edwards encourages application of this subject by:
(i) examining ourselves for truth, freedom, integrity and purity in our love;
(ii) convincing those who are still in an unregenerate state of their lost condition;
(iii) exhorting all earnestly to cherish sincere Christian love in their hearts.

What grabbed me
I liked the emphasis that Edwards placed on the vanity of suffering for God without love: 'Men are ready to make much of what they do, but more of what they suffer. They are ready to think it a great thing when they put themselves out of their way, or are at great expense or suffering for their religion. The Apostle here mentions a suffering of the most extreme kind, suffering even to death, and that one of the most terrible forms of death, and says that even this is nothing without charity. When a man has given away all his goods, he has nothing else remaining that he can give, but himself. And the Apostle teaches, that when a man has given all his possessions, if he then goes on to give his own body, and that to be utterly consumed in the flames, it will avail nothing if it is not done from sincere love in the heart. The time when the Apostle wrote to the Corinthians, was a time when Christians were often called not only to give their goods, but their bodies, also, for Christ's sake ; for the church then was generally under persecution, and multitudes were then or soon after put to very cruel deaths for the gospel's sake. But though they suffered in life, or endured the most agonizing death, it would be in vain without charity.'

Even being burnt at the stake is valueless if you have not love.

Next week's reading
Commence Lecture IV (Charity disposes us meekly to bear the injuries received from others) by reading up to the paragraph beginning 'III. How that love or charity, which is the sum of the Christian spirit, will dispose us meekly to bear such injuries.'

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.