M E R I D I A N M A G A Z I N E
Charity —
the Ultimate Teacher's Gift
By C.S. Bezas
Jesus taught repeatedly about the importance of love and charity, both through His words and through His ultimate sacrifice. Never once did He tell his disciples to wait to love another until that person manifested love. Instead, the Savior taught a renegade concept (renegade to the Mosaic culture of the time):
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another (John 13:34).
Christ's teachings always indicate we are to love others, regardless of whether they love us in return. We simply are to fill our lives and those of others with love. It is such an important trait that the prophet Moroni quoted his father Mormon's clarion call at the end of the Book of Mormon record:
"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. Wherefore ... pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love (Moroni 7:47-48).
As disciples of Christ, we are always to extend the trait of charity/love. Nowhere is this more important than in a gospel setting. As young students walk through the doors of our classrooms, they may not instantly be likeable. They may be mouthy. They might be troublemakers. Or they might be silently rebellious. Regardless of any of this, we as their seminary teachers (or in any other gospel scenario) are to manifest love first, regardless of others' treatment toward us.
The Perfect Example
Loving others first, before they love back, perhaps may well be one of the Savior's most amazing traits. After all, Christ set the perfect example in all things. How could one argue with the following example, stated by John clearly and succinctly?
We love him, because he first loved us (1 John 4:19).
What an astonishing trait — and how essential in light of today's conditions! The apostle Paul foretold well the "lovers of self" in the last days. In fact, one can see the egoistic lifestyle Paul spoke of in daily society around us.
Paul prophesied of our times:
This know also, that in the last day perilous times shall come.
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts.
Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was (2 Timothy 3:1-9, emphasis added).
Imagine what influence and potential pull this kind of society has on our youth today, whether in academic environments, at work, or at social gatherings. No wonder our young men and women might sometimes be troubled. No wonder at times a few of our young men and women act out. No wonder they need us to love them. Oh, that they might learn from us the potential, the impact, and the possibilities wrought through the miracle of charity expressed first!
But How?
Expressing charity is not easy, especially when in the face of rejection. Not only that, but persecutions do come to the kind in heart. Paul knew this well. He shared:
But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived (2 Timothy 3:10-13, emphasis added).
Paul finishes his message with profound advice, in the face of such hatred and lack of charity:
But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Timothy 3:14-17, emphasis added).
Being Able to Love First
Regardless of whether we teach seminary, Sunday school, or any other gospel class, it is imperative we love our students first, as Christ loved us first. The apostle John teaches us:
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
We love him, because he first loved us.
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also" (1 John 4:16-21).
It was my own seminary teacher who brought me back from the brink of confusion during my high school days. As a teenager, I was lost and unsure of my way through life. But my seminary teacher's warm handshake and twinkling eyes steadied my soul, as he welcomed me to seminary every day.
Because my seminary teacher loved me first, I soon began to wonder if perhaps I was worthy of love. Because he extended himself first, he fashioned himself as my mentor through the ways of charity and self-extension. As the days and weeks and years flew by in my high school years, this great man shaped me more than perhaps he'll ever know. All because he loved me first.
Summary
From the aforementioned scriptures, we can learn the following points to bring charity into our classrooms:
Jesus taught repeatedly about the importance of love and charity, both through His words and through His ultimate sacrifice. Never once did He tell his disciples to wait to love another until that person manifested love. And although charity might have been a renegade concept during the Savior's mortal ministry, today all those who follow Christ do seek to love others first, simply because He loved first His disciples.