Prioritise

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
1 Timothy 5:8 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/1ti.5.8.ESV

This verse troubles me, because I'm a Proverbs 31 kind of man, sitting in the ('Watching Daily at Wisdom's) 'Gates' whilst my wife wins bread and brings home the bacon. So I looked into the Greek for this verse, not to seek to excuse myself, but to better understand Paul's point.

The Greek word for 'provide' is 'pronoeo', which could just as well be translated 'prioritise'. We might be tempted to think of provision primarily or even solely as financial, but I'm sure Paul is more nuanced. If a workaholic husband prioritises his job over his family, he's idolising his salary over his God given wife and kids.

I think of the Casting Crowns song 'American Dream' where a man idolises an ideal that turns out into a nightmare when he loses his family on the altar of his worship of Mammon. To be honest, I'm the other extreme. I could definitely step up in the provision for my family.

Having said that, I don't despise the season we're in, with my Proverbs 31 wife excelling in her career as I prioritise childcare of our preschool children, alongside some part time work. God forgive me for my deficiencies, and raise me up to better provide for my family in the years to come.

'God, thank You for the common grace which means most families look out for each other. Forbid that our families should be the exception, and help us prioritise one another. In Christ's name, amen'

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