I recently attended a Gideon dinner and we are planning on having a Gideon speaker at our church soon. The Gideons are wonderful at getting copies of the Bible into the hands of a lot of people, and discussions of their mission fields involve many places – eastern Europe, South America, the Far East, and especially Africa. The Gideons are good examples of people doing great ministry.
Not everyone is cut out to do mission work all over the globe. This passage from 1 Timothy shows us that we can do ministry in our own household. We must provide for our relatives, and especially for our immediate family. But the passage is more than just a suggestion that we lavish our families with luxuries and extras, filling their lives with abundance.
It seems clear that being a Christian involves providing for our families, and I believe one of the things we are to provide is a secure home where there is no fear of money problems – bankruptcy, eviction or imprisonment. Providing for our families means to give them a financially stable home. It means establishing a workable budget and living within that budget.
A stable home may require that fewer risks are taken. It means providing your family with the security of a steady income. It means paying off any owed debt in a reasonable timeframe. It means paying taxes and bills and functioning within the rules of society.
I believe it also means being an example to your family by remaining financially sound. You may need to sacrifice your desires so that money can be spent for real needs and not fanciful luxuries. You may need to pass up a “dream job” that carries some real risks, and instead assume a more stable job.
And I also believe that providing for your family and being an example to them includes being an example of faith. Establishing a budget that includes a tithe and charitable donations demonstrates your faith and trust in God. It will provide your family with the spiritual stability that makes them strong.
DAILY CHALLENGE: How do you rate yourself as a “provider?”
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