CHRISTIANS WHO ARE WORSE THAN INFIDELS

"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." (1Timothy 5:8 KJV)

Christianity is not all about receiving and enjoying the riches of Christ. It is about receiving, enjoying and sharing the riches of Christ. Sharing to change lives and society, is the mentality needed for the holistic transformation that we want to see in the body of Christ. 

In a day and time when everybody looks to their own good, the goodness of the Lord must reach to others also, especially those of our own household.

Marriage is the first institution ordained by God himself. Through marriage family is established. It is a sad commentary on our day that Christian marriages are breaking and Christian families are tearing apart in an unprecedented manner due to selfishness on the part of many Christians. 

The key text above clearly tells us that we owe it a duty to take care of our own families. A Christian who does not take care of his (her) own family, even if they give so much to the church, to pastor or to charity, do not fully please God. 

Some Christians give so much to the church, to pastor or to charity but they neglect their own wives and children, or their own husbands and children. Everybody has a propensity to trivialize those who are very close to them, especially those who live under the same roof with them. This must not be said of Christians who belong to the family of God, and so understand the value of family. 

According to the New Testament, if you fail to take care of your own family, whether you give so much to the church or not, to pastor or not, to charity or not, you are worse than an infidel. Incredible! An infidel means an unbeliever; one who has no relationship with God due to his (her) unbelief. Why does the Lord say this under the New Testament? It is because, apart from Christ, your family is your most valuable asset on earth, and you need to cherish it as God himself does. 

Familiarity makes a wife not respect and honour her own husband. The same familiarity makes a husband treat his own wife as an inferior human being, neglecting his responsibility towards her. A wife must not be familiar with her own husband. Similarly, a husband must not disdain his own wife.  

A Christian husband may give so much to the church, to his pastor or to another man's wife but neglect his own wife. Why? Because you treat her as less important! This ought not to be so. Love is the foundation of a glorious marriage. For marriage to remain fresh everyday, spouses must learn to happily share all that they have with each other. You are worse than an infidel if you neglect your own wife or husband who shares the same pillow with you but help another person's spouse. 

The good things we do for those under our own roofs are not publicly seen, and so we do not receive public praises for them. We receive public praises when people see us give to the church, to pastor or to charity. We enjoy doing good for people to see and hail praises on us much more than helping those under our own roofs. 

Today the word of God is saying that God values helping our own families more than giving to the church, to pastor or to charity. This is not to mean that giving to the church, to pastor or to charity is not important. It is, however, our responsibility towards our own family is preponderant. Your family is your first local church. 

Since taking care of our own families is essential, we have to be careful about making decisions that will harm the family. Building a happy home and a glorious family that serves the purpose of God together, is a service worth rendering to the Lord. Always bear your family in prayer. Consider your family in the decisions that you make. Above all, never neglect your own family for selfish reasons. 

#Verity Haven