Faith & Family

• 1 Timothy 5:8 (NIV84)

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SCRIPTRE

1 Timothy 5:8

OBSERVATION

Paul supports the idea that faith is put into practice by how we prove it at home with this statement about the importance of family taking care of family.

In a culture where it's everyone "else's" responsibility (i.e. the government, the church, non-profits, etc.) many children who follow Christ are not taking care of their parents as they should. I wonder how much this is due to parents not properly caring for their children in the first place. Many have trouble caring for parents who never cared for them.

Yet, this letter is thousands of years old and indicates that it is generational thing that has existed long before our current culture. Which means to me that the selfishness of sin is rampant in all generations.

APPLICATION

God's love is all about caring for those close to Him. Humanity, His image on the earth, was so important that he put himself out in order to keep us in. As a Christ follower, failure to take care of those closest to me is to deny the very faith I profess. Others should see my love for my family as the greatest expression of God's love that there is.

PRAYER

Lord, help me to better love my family. Prepare my heart for the time when I will need to care for my parents. Help us to be ready to display the deepest love of God by caring for those who are closest to us.

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