It is good that you are concerned about providing for your family. We read in 1 Timothy 5:8, “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” To forsake your responsibility in taking care of your family is a very serious sin. Here, we see that it is a denial of the faith and worse than being an infidel.

To deny the faith in our actions occurs when we say that we have put our trust in the Lord Jesus, but our works illustrate that we are still selfish and self-serving. Titus 1:16 speaks of this type of people. It says, “They profess that they know God; but IN WORKS THEY DENY HIM, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”

To be worse than an infidel gives the thought of doing something that even the unsaved would not do. The infidels (unsaved) are taught and led by the light of nature to take care of their wives, children, and aged parents. The believer has the Holy Spirit dwelling inside him to lead him, so he has absolutely no excuse for failing to provide for his own.

We also have this thought found in 2 Thessalonians 3:10, “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” If an able-bodied person should refuse to work (so that he might provide for himself and his family), he has no right to eat. To provide for your family means that you will work consistently to make sure their needs are met.

While it may sound old-fashioned to say this, I’m going to say it anyway. The main responsibility to provide for the needs of the family falls mainly and firstly on the shoulders of the husband and father. Many households today are built upon the earnings of both parents, still the main support of the family is given to the husband and father.

Let me point out an incredibly important topic. Just as it is important to supply our families with the physical things they need in life, as parents we must especially make sure to provide the spiritual guidance our children need.

* Ephesians 6:4 says, “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but BRING THEM UP IN THE NURTURE AND ADMONITION OF THE LORD.”

* Proverbs 22:6 tells us, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

It was said of Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:15, “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” It was Timothy’s mother and grandmother that taught him the Word even as a young child. (Read 2 Timothy 1:5)

It was said of Abraham in Genesis 18:19, “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.” Abraham realized his responsibility towards his household and taught them “the way of the LORD.”

So, as Christian fathers, we have this two-fold responsibility to provide for our households both physically and spiritually. May the Lord strengthen us all to do just that! (330.2)