The narrative contained in Acts 5:41-42 provides an example of what joy and peace accompanies devotion to God and serving others. The reaction by Apostles when they were beaten and commanded to stop preaching the gospel was to rejoice and to obey God by continuing to preach and minister to God's children. “And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.”

The great gain believers receive from godly contentment (See 1 Timothy 6:6) is glorious and unspeakable joy as "receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." (See 1 Peter 1:8-9). Regarding which, through devotion to God and by ministering to others, we are blessed to experience the full assurance and a strong consolation of the hope of the resurrection at Jesus second coming (See Hebrews 6:9-19). Love does not have a short fuse. It does not flare by responding to provocations with sinful immediate anger. It is not sensitive to slights, not easily offended and it does not keep score of offenses. Therefore, it does not “make a man an offender for a word” (See Isaiah 29:21, Mark 4:17). Neither is charity provoked to claim vengeance as just prerogative when provoked. Rather, charity turns her cheek to slight, gives up her cloak, and walks the extra mile (See Matthew 5:39-41).

When faced with provocations, the normal course of charity is to peaceably and quietly endure as Jesus teaches in Matthew 5. Other times charity avoids responding in kind by seeking godly resolutions.

An example of the latter is seen in Abraham's reaction to Lot's abuse of grazing privileges the patriarch granted his nephew's cattle. Abraham responded to contention over grazing privileges between Lot's servants and Abraham's by reminding Lot they were brethren and thus should not fight with one another. He then graciously suggested their herds be separated and allowed Lot to choose which pastures his cattle would graze (See Genesis 13:7-9). It is telling point that the whole narrative of their dispute and its resolution is contained in just three sentences! It's presence and brevity suggest charity does take notice of provocations but does not allow them to distract us from charity's committed devotion to God and to loving others.

King Saul's repeated attempts to kill David and David's restraint show how believers can endure provocation. It also presents the stark contrast that exists between the quick and irrational response to provocations (real or imagined) by man's fallen nature and the charitable reactions of our born-again selves when we are provoked. Moreover, it attests to the power of charity to resist the most extreme provocations inasmuch as Saul provoked David by attempting to kill him! The irrationality of Saul's fallen-nature jealousy provoked reactions toward David is apparent in that he sought to kill his servant who was doing the best job of preventing the Philistines from harming Israel and Saul in particular!

David's response to Saul's repeated attempts to kill him with devotion to God, which is why charity is not easily provoked. When opportunity presented for David to kill Saul he told his followers, “The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD’S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.” (1 Samuel 24:6)

The loving example of Jesus Christ perfectly illustrates how charity is not easily provoked. Despite constant provocations by sinful opposition and His horrible suffering and death at Calvary, our charitable Savior did not respond with hatred and malice. Instead, in devotion to the Father and with love for us, He said “Father, forgive them.” His endurance against such great and constant provocation attests to the power of charity whose design and power proceed from “... the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” (See Romans 13-36)

The Hebrew writer thus points to Jesus as our model for responding to provocations that come about from besetting sin and heavy burdens. We avoid sinful responses to provocations by “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” Why is charity the greatest in comparison to faith and hope? It is because faith as we now know and use it will vanish and likewise hope. The Hebrews writer indicates at present faith gives substance to things we hope for and is evidence of things not yet seen (See Hebrews 11:1). When Jesus returns and carries all God's children to forever be with the LORD in glory, all the things we now hope for will appear, and hope seen will end (See Romans 8:24-25). Faith as evidence of things not seen will also pass in the resurrection when belief becomes our reality as we see Christ as He is and find ourselves to be like him in glorified bodies (See 1 John 3:2, Psalms 17:15).

But not so with charity. Charity is foremost in comparison to faith and hope because in spirit and practice it is God's love in us. Moreover, charity (Christ-like love) is the driving power, the engine, of Christian faith (See Galatians 5:6). In turn, faith gives substantive expression to eternal things for which we hope (See Hebrews 11:1). Thus, at present charity is the moving force and the basis for expressing faith and hope. And since the source of charity is the love of God we received when we were born again, it follows, that without charity faith is dead and without the assurance which comes through love-driven faith we cannot experience the joy of hope (See 1 John 4:7, James 2:26, Hebrews 6:10-12, Romans 5:1-5,).

Charity is also greatest because unlike faith (in its present form) and hope, which will end when Jesus comes again, Charity will remain and be perfect in form, scope and accomplishment. In the resurrection we shall be fashioned like the glorious image of Christ, which means we will no longer struggle against sin that is now in us. Therefore, sin will not deter the full and perfect expression of God's love. Then, we will perfectly display and use God's perfect love in all its qualities. Now we struggle to devotedly obey God and minister to others. But in the resurrection devotion to God will be unfettered. It will be magnified as adoration and by perfect obedience. We will no longer need to suppress sinful attitudes and thoughts to love one another, for we shall love others as God loves us; doing so with utmost affection. The spirit of God's great love will not be shaded by our present struggles to present our bodies as living sacrifices to God. For when we are glorified as was Christ His perfect sacrifice will brightly shine as victory over sin and death.

For now, we only partially understand God's love, and our practice of it as charity is like that of a child who is learning to ride a bicycle. We struggle along as if on wobbling wheels and too often lose our balance and fall. But when Jesus comes again and we are conformed to His image, the murkiness of immature understanding and ineptness of our juvenile efforts at charity will be put away. Seeing Him face-to-face our knowledge and ability to love will be complete. We shall perfectly love God and all His triumphant, elect family. For then we will know even as we are known.