Charity Begins at Home
More Than Just a Catchy Phrase
"Charity begins at home" is a phrase I have often heard but never really thought about much until recently. The definition of charity is provision of help or relief to the poor. But charity is also defined as benevolence or generosity toward others. And is even defined as the theological virtue defined as love directed first toward God but also toward oneself and one's neighbors as objects of God's love.
Our charity should be given according to our abilities, but it should start with those closest to us; our family and ourselves.
"Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have." 2 Corinthians 8:11
"But if anyone doesn't provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever." 1 Timothy 5:8
I know how I interpret this. We should be doing all that we can at home before we go out and do for others outside our family. What type of Christians are we if we deny our family our kindness and generosity and save it for others? If we are using our best behavior and our best manners for those outside our four walls, why is our family not worthy of the same?
Am I saying that we should hold back charity from anyone outside our family? Of course not. We should be giving freely to everyone, but most of all we should be doing so with our family.
When we take a spouse we are to become one. Husbands are supposed to love their wives as themselves. We are supposed to raise our children up in the way they should go. All these things mean we should be focusing first on our family. It is through honoring God's wishes for our family that we are able to keep charity for others flowing.
Resources
Day 50 - Are You Still Waiting?
Free Dictionary - Charity
Bible CC - 2 Corinthians 8:11
Provident Plan - New Covenant Giving For Christians
Published by Marilyn Quinn
Featured Video Games Contributor, Freelance writer, voracious reader, mother of four, wife and gamer who lives just minutes outside Albuquerque, in Rio Rancho, NM! View profile
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