Marks of Manhood (Pt. 2/3)
The Provider
Here at Dominion, we have chosen 1 Timothy 5:8 as our rationale for our mandate of provision. A simple breakdown of the scripture will be the best way to explain this principle. I will try to stick to that and not go beyond as anything I say couldn’t possibly carry more significance.
8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
1 Timothy 5:8, NASB
These are sobering words, and a pretty clear message about someone who does not provide for his family. When you read this, it begs the question, in what way could a man who belongs to Christ and is bound for heaven be worse than someone who is lost and is destined for hell? In an eternal sense, the Christian is much better off. That is not what this means. What is meant here is that even people who are not in Christ recognize the importance of taking care of their loved ones when they can’t take care of themselves and therefore perform this task. So if you, a Christian, obey these words less than non-Christians, then that’s a bad spot to be and a bad look for the faith.
For us to better understand this passage of scripture we need to look at the entirety of the passage so we can see the context in which this verse was written.
3 Honor widows who are actually widows; 4 but if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to show proper respect for their own family and to give back compensation to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God. 5 Now she who is actually a widow and has been left alone has set her hope on God, and she continues in requests and prayers night and day. 6 But she who indulges herself in luxury is dead, even while she lives. 7 Give these instructions as well, so that they may be above reproach. 8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
1 Timothy 5:3-8, NASB
We see here that this passage is contained within this larger piece of scripture, giving direction for taking care of widows. Paul then opens it up to anyone who is “Your own,” meaning anyone who is in need in your sphere of influence, which can go beyond family and widows.
Who is a “widow indeed” in verse 3? The apostle Paul uses this word to describe any woman who has needs that she can’t provide for, and who has no family present to provide for her, not just one whose spouse has died. Verse four essentially says the same thing as verse eight except in a positive frame, not a negative. In verse five we see a criteria for someone to meet before this mandate of care applies. That criteria is simple. The woman must be a believer. Verse six clearly lays out that if she lives in an ungodly lifestyle pursuing pleasure, then she does not meet this criteria and we are not bound by scripture to provide for her needs.
There’s an important point to make here. This verse mandates the care of widows. It does not give you an option to care for widows. It does not make it as if it is something that you’ll get rewarded for if you do it. Rather, it is something that you are commanded to do as a believer. You may choose to care for and provide for someone who is not a Christian, however you are commanded to care for those who are.
“Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17, NASB)
Then Paul commands Timothy to, “prescribe these things as well, so that they may be above reproach.” This means we are without excuse, we’ve been commanded, its plane as day in scripture therefore, there is no excuse for not doing it.
Throughout this whole time, you may think to yourself well I work and make money and my family doesn’t need for anything. That’s fine and dandy. This provision that is mentioned goes well beyond finances. The idea of this provision implies any need that one who is “your own” may have that they can’t provide for themselves. It may look like mowing your elderly neighbors lawn. It may look like going and sitting and having a cup of coffee with an old man down the street. It may look like your mother-in-law moving into your house because she can’t care for herself anymore. The potential applications are plentiful, but I think you get the idea. You may say well that’s the churches job. You’re exactly right, who do you think the church is though? As a believer, you are the church. This is a mandate to the body of Christ, who is made up of the individual believers in Him. It is not a mandate for your local place of worship, it’s for you! And why the emphasis on caring for women? Well, many may think this is controversial, but this is just the created order of things. Women were made to be cared for, men were made to care for them. It’s that simple.
Many things in scripture seem hard. But the beauty of it is that we have a helper. You may be thinking to yourself, I don’t possibly see how I have the time or the resources to do this. Well, I’ve heard too much testimony about the Holy Spirit rewarding faithfulness, and obedience to scripture, to think that highly of my time. And I have experienced the Lord‘s provision, financially, too many times to be that greedy. After all, what do we have that we have not been given. If you sacrifice and make time to obey this mandate, the Spirit will equip you and provide for any need or inconvenience that may be incurred. But more likely, that inconvenience or problem you foresee will end up seeming pretty insignificant in the end.
