Charity Begins at Home

The home is a child’s first classroom. Parents are the first teachers. The home is where a child first learns love, respect, discipline, and order. What is practiced daily within the family becomes the foundation a child carries into every relationship and environment.

When charity, responsibility, and godly character are cultivated within the family, they overflow into the church and the community. A child who learns kindness at home will extend kindness to others. A child who learns accountability at home will walk with integrity elsewhere. In this way, the strength of society is rooted in the health of the home, because what is planted in the family is what is eventually revealed in the world.

The Bible reminds us in Proverbs 22:6
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it”

Biblical training does not happen by accident. It is purposeful, consistent, and rooted in relationship. One practical way to apply this at home is through the acronym TRAIN, keeping charity at the center of each step.

Where love is genuine and kindness is taught and practiced, good manners naturally follow.

Teach Intentionally

You must intentionally teach what charity looks like in everyday life. Love, kindness, respect, and good manners should be clearly explained and modeled. Children learn charity when parents speak respectfully, correct with patience, and show compassion in real situations. Teaching on purpose helps children understand that how they treat others matters.

Deuteronomy 6:7 "And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up."

Reinforce Consistently

Charity must be practiced daily, not occasionally. Reinforcing consistent behavior, such as saying “please,” “thank you,” apologizing, and showing respect, helps children develop habits of kindness. Clear expectations help children understand that love and respect are a way of life.

Accountability

Accountability teaches children that love and kindness include responsibility. When a child speaks disrespectfully or acts selfishly, loving correction helps them recognize the impact of their actions. Accountability shapes character by teaching children to take responsibility, make amends, and grow in integrity.

As Scripture reminds us in Galatians 6:5 “For every man shall bear his own burden”. This verse reinforces the principle that each person is responsible for their choices, and learning this early at home helps children develop a lifelong sense of responsibility.

Charity thrives where time is invested. Time spent listening, guiding, correcting, and encouraging builds trust and influence. Children are more receptive to instruction when they feel valued and heard. Investing time allows parents to teach love and kindness through presence, not just words.

Nurture with Care

Discipline must always be paired with nurturing. Nurturing with care means correcting without harshness, encouraging growth, and affirming a child’s worth. When children are nurtured in love, they learn that charity includes patience, gentleness, and compassion, even in moments of correction.

Ephesians 6:4, "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."

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