Oct. 3rd- Charity is the bond of Perfectness

Colossians 3: 14

"And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness."

In the verses before, it talks about how we are to live our lives: setting your affection on things above, lie not to one another, kindness, humbleness, meekness, longsuffering, forgiving one another...etc.
And then it says that ABOVE ALL THESE THINGS, put on charity.

Charity is the bond of perfectness. What does that mean? A bond is a firm assurance; something that holds together... and my favorite, a covenant.

Charity is the covenant of perfectness.

In the bible dictionary under "Covenant" it says in the second paragraph: "The gospel is so arranged that principles and ordinances are received by covenant placing the recipient under strong obligation and responsibility to honor the commitment."
Charity is a principle of the gospel. Charity is received by covenant... placing us under responsibility to honor the commitment.

How do we receive charity?

Moroni 7:48
"Wherefore my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love (charity), which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ..."

As it continues it explains God's part on this covenant, the blessing we receive by having charity...
"that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen."

Charity is the covenant of perfectness.

So what are we obligated to do? What are we covenanting to do?

President Thomas S. Monson in General Conference of OCT 2010, said:

"There is a serious need for the charity that gives attention to those who are unnoticed, hope to those who are discouraged, aid to those who are afflicted. True charity is love in action. The need for charity is everywhere.

Needed is the charity which refuses to find satisfaction in hearing or in repeating the reports of misfortunes that come to others, unless by so doing, the unfortunate one may be benefited. The American educator and politician Horace Mann once said, “To pity distress is but human; to relieve it is godlike.” 11

Charity is having patience with someone who has let us down. It is resisting the impulse to become offended easily. It is accepting weaknesses and shortcomings. It is accepting people as they truly are. It is looking beyond physical appearances to attributes that will not dim through time. It is resisting the impulse to categorize others."

This is what we covenant to do.