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The common saying goes, that each person is his own neighbor. But the doctrine of charity teachings us how we ought to understand this. It means that each person should procure for himself the necessities of life, such as food, clothing, somewhere to live and many other things demanded by the society in which he lives. These he should procure not only for himself, but for his family; and not only for the present, but also for the future. For unless a person provides himself with the necessities of life, he is not in a position to exercise charity, being in want of everything.

In what way, however, each person ought to be his own neighbor can be seen from this analogy. Everyone ought to provide his body with food. This is his first consideration, but for the purpose of having a healthy mind in a healthy body. Everyone ought also to provide his mind with the food it needs, such matters as fall within the domain of intelligence and judgment, but in order that he may as a result be in a position to be of service to his fellow citizen, his community, country, the church, and so the Lord. . . . This shows plainly what is first in time, and what is first in purpose - and it is this which all else has in view. This is also like somebody building a house: first he lays the foundations, but the purpose of the foundations is the building of a house, and the purpose of a house is to be somewhere to live. Anyone who thinks being his own neighbor comes first or takes the leading position is like someone who regards the foundations as the purpose rather than having somewhere to live. In fact living in the house is the first and last purpose in building, and the house with its foundation is only a means to this end. True Christian Religion 406