Fervent Charity

“And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (I Peter 4:8-10)



The word fervent means stretched or strained. It is made of two words which literally means “stretched out”. What does stretched out charity do or look like? Below are seven biblical words in regard to charity, love, and giving.


Everyone – “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him,..” (I Corinthians 16:2)

Grace – “Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.” (II Corinthians 8:7)

Love – “I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.” (II Corinthians 8:8)

Willing – “For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not” (II Corinthians 8:12)

Bountifully – “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” (II Corinthians 9:6)

Cheerfully – “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” (II Corinthians 9:7)

Unto the Lord – “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward” (Matthew 6:1-5)