What has been bouncing around lately is the relationship among faith, hope, and charity. It’s been sparked by two writers. One of my favorite sections of scripture is 1 Cor 13 from the New Testament. There is a similar passage we have recently read as my wife and I review scriptures at breakfast. It’s Moroni 7 in the Book of Mormon in which Moroni is quoting his father Mormon.
Both Paul and Mormon come to a similar conclusion, that charity is in the primary position of the three.
1 Corinthians 13:13
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
Moroni 7:46-47
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail--
But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.
I wondered why that is. Here is my simple way of thinking of it. Faith is what we do. Hope is what we gain. Charity is our motivation. There are many scriptures that show that if we don’t have charity, or love, as a motivation then our works (faith) and hope are in vain. If we hope to gain hope, then why we do what we do is more important than doing what we do. I’m sure you scriptorians out there can find many passages that note how our works alone don’t save us. We are not saved without Jesus Christ. Also, if all we do is ‘believe’ in Christ but don’t act on what he says then we are faithless. Perhaps an obvious example of these two extremes of focus on works or focus on belief is found here:
Matthew 7: 21-23
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Both Paul and Mormon come to a similar conclusion, that charity is in the primary position of the three.
1 Corinthians 13:13
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
Moroni 7:46-47
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail--
But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.
I wondered why that is. Here is my simple way of thinking of it. Faith is what we do. Hope is what we gain. Charity is our motivation. There are many scriptures that show that if we don’t have charity, or love, as a motivation then our works (faith) and hope are in vain. If we hope to gain hope, then why we do what we do is more important than doing what we do. I’m sure you scriptorians out there can find many passages that note how our works alone don’t save us. We are not saved without Jesus Christ. Also, if all we do is ‘believe’ in Christ but don’t act on what he says then we are faithless. Perhaps an obvious example of these two extremes of focus on works or focus on belief is found here:
Matthew 7: 21-23
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
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