Charity and Where It Begins

I usually don't quote Scripture here, however sometimes we need the reminders.

 

But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household … for this is pleasing in the sight of God …But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.  – 1 Timothy 5:4,8

This is from the ESV.  You can read it in most any version and in context and the meaning is not changed.  First, you take care of your own.  Your family and your kin are the number one priority.  The same is true for everyone, not just Americans, and not just those of northwest European descent.  The same holds true in Mexico, Mongolia, and Mozambique.  If you won’t take care of your own people, why should I? 

One of the great errors of American foreign policy has been foreign aid, billions of dollars poured into third-world ratholes around the world that remain, surprisingly, after seventy years, third-world ratholes albeit with cell phones.  The aid that comes in funds corruption, for the most part.  Aid to Somalia funded the warlords who ravaged the country and led to the ‘Blackhawk Down’ episode.  It happens everywhere.  We feed people who cannot feed themselves, and yet we get more of them to feed.  Funny how that works.

The same in true of the “war on poverty” in this country – we give money to people for sitting on their butts and having babies.  We are then simply shocked and astounded when people sit on their butts more and have more babies.  We hand welfare to invaders and colonizers crossing our borders illegally and puzzle over why the influx of illegals continues. 

But Christianity requires us to help those in need.  Love thy neighbor.  The Good Samaritan.  Yeah, read what’s up above again.  Love your family first.  Put your own people first.  Then, if you want to try and give someone a hand up, do it, but do it with your own money and not mine.  Let’s all be Pro-Choice – as in, I would like to choose what I fund.  Let your compassion start from your own bank account.