In his novel Bleak House, Charles Dickens satirises what he refers to as ‘telescopic philanthropy.’ This ‘virtue’ is embodied by Mrs Jelly by who preoccupies herself with the plight of the Africans while neglecting her own children and being surrounded by poverty in her own streets. Her eyes, says Dickens, “had a curious habit of seeming to look a long way off…they could see nothing nearer than Africa!” Of course, we should take every opportunity to give aid to those in other nations who lack the resources we enjoy in our country. This is important. But we must beware of a telescopic view that looks to do great deeds at a distance whilst neglecting the needs of our own family and the obvious opportunities to love those around us. The early church was a revolutionary movement in that it practiced charity for the poor and vulnerable. This was very uncommon in the ancient world and so there was something of a rush on the resources of this fledgling movement. Paul, therefore, warns Timothy about the church becoming a mere handout centre. He wants the church to be charitable, but he does not want to take away from each person’s responsibility to care for their family and work for their own upkeep. Learn to see the needs of those in your immediate vicinity and don’t expect others to do what you are not willing to do. Charity starts at home with you taking responsibility for yourself, then caring for your family, and moving outwards from there.
Ask God to show you if you have you been neglecting responsibilities?
Read 1 Timothy 5
