Charity begins at home

What “Charity Begins at Home” Really Means

The phrase “charity begins at home” is said to first appear in writing in a 1642 book by Sir Thomas Browne. Yet the exact origin of the phrase is still debated. Though many people agree that it is derived from this bible verse:
But if any widow has children or nephews, let them learn first to show piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God. – 1 Timothy 5:4
But doesn’t this verse just reaffirm that we should put the needs of our family and friends before others? Not really. Besides, there’s nowhere in this verse that suggests that.

What this verse tells us is that we should learn to practice piety at home. And it’s impossible to show piety without learning the virtue of charity.

So there you have it. What the phrase “charity begins at home” really means is exactly what it literally says: charity should start at home. It means that we should be charitable starting with the people at home – our family and the people that we interact with every day. Simple things like being there when they need someone to talk to, sharing your food with them, or comforting them when they’re not feeling well. These simple gestures are a great way to begin practicing charity. But it does not necessarily mean prioritizing their needs above others.

You can help others even while helping your family. It’s very much possible to help someone in need without depriving your family. If you’ll ever have a “priority” when it comes to charity, make sure that the first ones on your list should be those who need it the most. Not who you love the most.
Your family should just serve as a starting point and not the be-all-end-all of your charity efforts. Yes, charity begins at home but it should not end there. Do not use this proverb as an excuse not to extend a helping hand outside of your circle.
Why Charity Should Begin at Home
There’s a bible verse that perfectly explains why charity should begin at home:
Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it. – Proverbs 22:6
A child’s moral values are formed by what they see around them. They absorb and mimic everything the adults do. So if we want them to grow up charitable and with a strong sense of compassion towards others, we need to practice it around them.

There’s no better place to do this than in our own homes. It’s where the child’s character is molded. It’s where they gain a sense of what is right and wrong. If you show them the importance of charity while still young, they’ll cherish those values as they grow up.

Remember that our children are the inheritors of this planet. So what we teach them today will determine the kind of future our world will have.