You have probably heard the phrase “Charity begins at home.” This Fathers Day weekend, I had an opportunity to see that in action. On the third Saturday of each month, we have the serve our community by distributing food to people who need it. This month, our whole family worked together to help set up and distribute food. It was an amazing thing for me to see all my kids working with other kids and adults from the church to live out the second greatest commandment and love people in a tangible way.
The thought that “charity begins at home” is an excellent starting point for helping Christians, particularly young Christians, to grow up in their faith and knowledge of the Lord. It is not a bad thing for family to take care of family. In fact, the apostle Paul commands it in 1 Timothy 5:8: “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
But the command is not intended to make us focus on ourselves. it’s a matter of growing closer to God and serving God. Jesus said in Matthew 5:46-48: “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Paul tells us that we need to take care of our own families, and if we don’t, we’re worse than people who don’t know God at all. Jesus said that it’s a matter of becoming like God. Ultimately, it’s about sharing the Good News of God’s love and forgiveness. If we cannot learn to take care of our own families, and our own church family, our message of God’s love will fall short because our personal lives won’t reflect it. If we truly want people to know the God who loves us enough to forgive our sins, we have to show that love through our own families.