Is giving someone the shirt off your back a form of charity?

Question

Is giving someone the shirt off your back a form of charity?

Answer 1

I think it is.

Answer 2

giving someone the shirt off your back is a charity only if it is done out of benevolence, therefor yes but possibly not

Answer 3

No; it's a form of giving.

Answer 4

Not necessarily.  It could be a form of friendship, which is entirely different.  Or, it could also be an investment.

Answer 5

It depends if you are giving it with your heart!

Answer 6

this is a person that helps, where help is needed, and ask for nothing in return....someone that sees a person in "need"....

Answer 7

if you mean can you write it off on your taxes...I think so.

Answer 8

No, not really. It's only a metaphor for generosity. i.e. if someone says about a person 'My, that person would give you their shirt off their back' it means that they are truly generous. That's all, whether you regard this as being 'charity' is purely a matter of opinion.

Answer 9

Yes it is a form of charity.

Answer 10

thats a form of sacrifice i think..

Answer 11

depends on who ur giving the shirt to, why ur giving the shirt and how you give the shirt...

this could be interpreted as charity, generosity, arrogance even stupidity..the possibilities are wide..

but i believe this is a metaphor for generosity?

Answer 12

If they're in the need of a shirt.

Answer 13

I think it's more than a form of charity Rene, I think it is an unselfish act that needs to be done. Because there are times when the right thing to do is literally "give someone the shirt off your back". That goes beyond charity.

Charity is a social and moral issue of giving what extra you have to those who have nothing. But the expression or proverb you've quoted seems to go an extra mile in that arena.

It is something more life giving, something more in the fields of Agape'.

It can be seen as "just a form of charity" to be sure, but really? I think it is more than that.

Answer 14

I think it's a form of kindness & selflessness, not really "charity".