PROTECT pt4. OWN.

“O Timothy! keep that which is committed to thy trust,” (1Tim 6:20).

We’ve been taking a closer look at the 7 things we ought to protect.

This next one is about protecting our OWN, which is to say, our own household.

“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.” (1Tim 5:8).

It may seem axiomatic to provide for the needs of one’s own household and family, but that is not self-evident to all.

We’re charged to guard our own family.

“If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed” (1Tim 5:16).

Beginning with the passage in Timothy, we’re to provide for the older members of our own family. These may or may not be members of our immediate household, meaning they may or may not be living under the same roof.

“House” in the bible could refer to family as well as those living within your home (cf. 1Tim 3:4-5). We as individual members of the church have a responsibility to care for our aged parents.

Next, we see that Husbands, as leader of the home (1Cor 11:3), have a responsibility to care for his wife. For this we’ll read all of Ephesians 5:23-33.

“23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

The two main take aways from this passage is first, that the husband is to care for His wife as Christ does the church. Second, this marriage relationship is a physical symbol of Christ and the church. If you’ve ever wondered why God is so concerned about who can marry, this is why.

“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Eph 6:4; cf. Pr 19:18; 22:6; 29:17).

Additionally, we have a responsibility toward the children who are our own. While it’s certain that we are to care, feed, and provide for our children’s physical needs, it is vital that we especially provide for their spiritual growth and nourishment.

A word about widows and orphans. It’s presumed that the local church collective has a responsibility to care for ALL Widows and Orphans. That is a mistake. The church collective in a location can only provide for the needs of saints (Making Saints Mat 28:19, Teaching Saints Matt 28:20, and helping needy Saints 1Tim 5:5-16; Acts 11:29; 1Cor 16:1,2; 2Cor 8, 9).

Individual members of the church can help out the worlds needy as they have opportunity as discussed in a previous article (Luke 10:33). Even here in 1Tim 5:16 we see the distinction made between the collective group of Christians in a location and the individual member of the church. “Let not the church be charged.”

Parents, you ought to pay careful attention to provide for your children in the event you should pass away before your children are grown. It would be a great shame if our children are moved to live and be raised by non-Christians because of the laws of the state. In this way, the church can care for orphans of Christians who’ve died, leaving behind their children.

Spencer