The Bond of Perfectness

The Bond of Perfectness

Col 3:12-14
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
KJV

In spite our preoccupations with spiritual gifts, these are (by no means) indications that he or she that employs them are mature (perfect). For “charity [love]…is the bond of perfectness” and is the first named “fruit of the Spirit” in Galatians 5:22. All the same, the Apostle Paul provides the most telling theological exposition of this truth when he informs the Corinthians, “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.” To be sure, Paul also informs the Romans that the “gifts and callings of God are without repentance,” but make no mistake, giftings (without charity) never amounts to perfection (maturity). And though we find this illustrated in the lives of Peter, Sampson, Gideon and a host of other biblical personages, perhaps the clearest example of such is Joseph.

Joseph possessed an unimpeachable character throughout his life. Yet while still a child, and in possession of a great variety of giftings (i.e. visions, dreams, prophesy, interpretation and revelation), Joseph did not always demonstrate charity (love). For scripture records a number of his uncharitable acts: He brought an “evil report” to his father about his brothers; He “vaunteth” himself when he reported to his father and brothers his dream. And finally, he “sought after his own” in doing so. (For what edification is it to one’s fellows to report to them the manner in which God will exalt you, except it be for selfish vain glory?) These were uncharitable acts, and as such they were not the “bond of perfectness” (maturity).

Nonetheless, Joseph would eventually move “on unto perfection,” (not simply relishing in giftings) when he demonstrated charity (love) towards Pharaoh, Egypt, the surrounding countries, and his brothers. For in interpreting Pharaoh’s dream, he would not be prideful regarding his gift of interpretation, for he remarked: “It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.” He would cover the transgression of his brothers with mercy and forgiveness and not give an evil report (though he discerned and was aware of their transgression): “So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God.” And finally, though his brothers would in fact bow down before him, it was not for the purpose of his own exaltation, but for others: “God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.” In the end, Joseph’s giftings would not be the principle marker of his notoriety, but his charity (love), “the bond of perfectness (maturity).”

1 Corinthians 3:11 “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things […] And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”