Colossians 3:14

THE OUTER GARMENT

‘And above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness.’

Colossians 3:14 (R.V.)

The Apostle shows that love is the outer garment which holds the others in their places—that which gives a finish to the whole Christian dress. All Christian graces are held together by this golden clasp of charity. Many a work of art is spoiled by want of finish; and are not many souls, which have been for the most part richly dressed by grace, bereft of attractiveness just because they need the perfecting robe of love? But, it may be asked, wherein lies the excelling beauty of this garment, on which so much depends the beauty of the Christian life? It is chiefly in three particulars.

I. As the robe we put over our clothes is greater and larger than our other clothing, so charity has a much greater extent than any of the before-mentioned virtues.—For mercy succours only the miserable; kindness helps them only who have need of us; sweetness only caresses those with whom we converse; and patience only bears with those who offend us; but love embraces them all together, and is affectionate towards our neighbours generally—both those that are in adversity, and such as are in prosperity; persons in affluence, as well as those who are necessitous; friends and foes; the perfect and the infirm; those who oblige us, and those who offend us; and those likewise who look upon us as indifferent.

II. As that last piece of our clothing is commonly fairest and richest, so likewise is charity, without doubt, more excellent than all the other virtues which make up a Christian’s clothing.

III. As the one marks out and distinguishes men, being usually the character of their rank and of their quality, in the town or in the state, so the other is the Christian’s livery, and a mark of the honour they have to be the children of God and disciples of His Son: as our Saviour said, ‘By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.’ Such are some of the reasons why, over and around all other pieces of our soul’s heavenly attire, we should cast the mantle of love.

Rev. W. A. Challacombe.