piety and charity, two loves
that cannot be separated. Matthew chapter 22, verses 37
through 39. You shall love the Lord your
God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your
mind. This is the great and first commandment,
and the second is like it. You shall love your neighbor
as yourself. The Lord Jesus summarized the
whole moral law with two commandments, love God and love neighbor. These two pillars of holy living
reveal the essence of piety and charity. Though distinct, they
are inseparable, for charity always flows from genuine piety. Piety is our posture toward God. It is reverent devotion, a life
bent Godward in worship, obedience, and holiness. To be pious is
to live with a constant awareness of God's majesty, to honor His
Word above all human thinking, and to pursue holiness in the
fear of the Lord. It is vertical love, love ascending
upward to God. Charity, by contrast, is love
turned towards others. It is the visible fruit of the
invisible root of piety. John writes with piercing clarity,
If anyone says, I love God and hates his brother, he is a liar.
Charity is expressed in mercy, generosity, patience, forgiveness,
and tangible care for others, especially the household of faith.
Yet the difference between piety and charity must never be twisted
into opposition. Many profess piety towards God,
without charity towards others, but Scripture calls this hypocrisy. Others practice charity towards
others, without piety towards God, but this is mere philanthropy,
hollow before God. Genuine Christian charity must
spring from true Christian piety, because the God we love is the
fountain of all love. Therefore, the heart aflame with
piety towards God will overflow in charity towards others. A
man who kneels in prayer before the Lord will rise with hands
ready to assist his needy brethren. The woman who delights in Jesus
will, by that same delight, pour forth kindness, mercy, and selfless
love to those around her. Let us then pursue both. Let
our piety deepen in worship, obedience, and holiness. Let
our charity widen in mercy, generosity, and kindness, for the God who
commands our devotion also commands our compassion. He has joined
together what no man should separate, love for God and love for neighbor. Matthew Henry The law of love
is one law, though it runs in two channels. The love of God
is the fountain, and the love of our neighbour is the stream
that flows from it. Jonathan Edwards True piety in
the heart naturally disposes men to love their fellow men.
Lord, grant me a heart that trembles at your word and delights in
your presence. Let my love for you overflow
in love for others. May my piety be genuine, and
may my charity be the fruit that proves it, all for the glory
of Christ. Amen. This commandment we have from
him, whoever loves God piety, must also love his brother charity.