Scripture
7Give these instructions to the church so that no one will be open to criticism. 8But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers. 1 Timothy 5:7-8
Observation
This is the minimum requirement for a Christian man: provide for your family. This whole chapter is establishing the structure, strategy, and spiritual requirements for caring for the needs of the Christian community. These verses point out that when the Christian man is providing for his family than most needs will be met before anything is taken from the general fund of the church. This leaves the gathered believers with a budget to support the needs of widows, orphans and others who cannot support themselves. This makes sense. Then, Paul drops a statement that drives home the severity of this personal responsibility. The Christian man who doesn’t provide for his family is worse than someone who doesn’t know Jesus. It’s bad for sure, but is it that bad? One commentator pointed out that even while Jesus was suffering the worst possible agony and torture on the cross to provide forgiveness for all mankind he also modeled this principle of providing for your family. “25Near the cross of Jesus stood His mother and her sister, as well as Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene. 26When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, here is your son.” 27Then He said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” So from that hour, this disciple took her into his home.” (John 19:25-27). To not care for those under your care is to deny the very example Christ gave us in His life and death. It’s not only a wicked witness to the world who don’t know Jesus, it’s a flat out denial of the one we say we believe. In other words, one of the most spiritual things we can do as followers of Christ is to provide for our family. It’s not an option, it’s a command.
Application
Having grown up in the church I’ve seen some incredible examples of ministers who work hard to provide for their family. I’ve also seen what Paul is describing here. Those who are "too spiritual" to do real work in the real world because they are ministers. Meanwhile their wives and children are one step away from the street because they are dependent upon the giving of the church while that church is far too small to support such a demand. Don’t get me wrong, if there’s anyone who believes that devoting yourself to the teaching and preaching of The Word, the praying and laying on of hands to others, the outreach to those who are in need and far from God is real work in the real world, it’s me. In fact, later on in this very chapter Paul argues for the importance of providing for those who provide spiritually for us (1 Tim. 5:17-18). The problem is when we see one type of work as more spiritual than the other instead of both working hand-in-hand. The Christian work ethic is pretty clear throughout the scripture:
Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
Proverbs 16:3
Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.
Proverbs 14:23
In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.
2 Thessalonians 3:10
For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.
Ecclesiastes 9:10
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.
Proverbs 10:4
A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
Acts 20:35
In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
There’s no room for spiritual freeloaders in the Kingdom of God!
Prayer
I’m so thankful for an incredible example from my parents who were both ministers and both worked really hard to provide for our family. The showed me that the Christian work ethic is Your very heart. That to minister and provide for our family is just as spiritual as preaching a message, prophesying, or praying is so important to see and show in these days where so many are walking in a welfare mindset. You have called us to lay down our lives for those in our lives in the same way you did for us!
Comments