Charity begins at home

[Jon]

What do people mean when they say this? Is it that they disagree with contributing to charity? Or just that they disagree with payments that go to a cause outside their home, with home defined as either their own family or their country?

 

[Bee]

I generally take it to mean get your own affairs in order first.

 

[Insane_AI]

I have interpreted this as take care of your own first, then reach out in ever widening circles until you've run out of resources to share.
1. Me and immediate family in my home.
2. Family outside my home.
3. Neighbors.
4. Church / community organization
5. city / county / state etc.

The point is two-fold. First, you can't take proper care of anyone unless you've taken care of your own needs. Followed by the further away the money goes, the more processing cuts are taken from it lessening its intended impact to assist others.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

I take it to mean, do not give so much that you yourself become a charity case. But I also see that charity is an attitude that begins because you were brought up to be generous and to share with others. I.e. your charitable habits began when you were a child living at home with your parents.

I could see it either way.