Bible Reading: 2 Chronicle 34. 1 Timothy 5:1-9
“But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel” – 1 Timothy 5:8 (KJV).
It is the duty of all parents and especially for the father as the head of the family to work hard to provide for the family the basic necessities of life. The Christian faith does not exempt any from that parental responsibility, it, rather, makes it mandatory. Some parents out of laziness abdicate this responsibility to the society or leave the children to find ways to sought out themselves. Some parents give birth to children they do not have the resources and capability to take care of. All that concern them is to produce children, some of those children end up as vagabonds and irresponsible children living in the streets and constituting treats and menace to the society.
God demands that parents provide for the children. Such provision is not limited to food but it includes the basic necessities of life. Parents are to provide shelter, clothing, food, education or skill, protection, guidance, and direction. They are to provide spiritual training and godly upbringing for the children. Believers are admonished to train up their children in the way they should go such that when they are old, they will not depart from it.
Parents are to provide peaceful, loving, caring and conducive environment that will enhance healthy growth of the children. They are to counsel, pray for and provide leadership for the children. Above all, they are to provide example of godly life by modeling the godly lifestyle in the family for the children to emulate.
PRAYER: Lord, help me to model the godly lifestyle and provide leadership for my family.
Rev. Vincent Diolu