Faith that touches everything
“But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” (1 Timoth 5:8)
I was watching a video out of Japan this morning where a man in his 90s was performing a purification ritual over a production machine they were decommissioning. It struck me that the young men were there too participating in this obviously religious ritual. They were there bowing and reverent of what the old man was doing as they paid homage to the work this machine had performed over the course of its existence. They were giving thanks.
What really caught my attention was how their religious views permeated even into their work environment. Their behavior demonstrated that they presumed that their religious views applied right where their feet are. They took seriously that their faith is not simply abstract. It is real and applicable in everyday situations. Watching this cut right to my insides in how so many of us (Christians) disconnect the bible from our work, our homes, and our daily routines.
What does this verse have to do with any of that? A lot. It has A LOT to do with that. You see, the man who refuses to fight to provide for his household has denied that God provided him with a wife and children. He has denied that God has provided the home they live in. He has denied the very breath of God in his soul. He has spit in the face of God’s provision and affection.
On the other hand, the man who recognizes God’s provision will begin to see it in every moment of his life. He will give thanks for it and be willing to share it because he knows *more will arrive soon* because of God’s gracious nature. This man integrates his faith into everything because he sees it everywhere in God’s provision. He is steadfast in thankfulness.
The pagans and atheists I know, some live this way: appreciating what they have and sharing it at least with their own households. They at least understand that thankfulness and persistence are necessary. So then, how can one who refuses to fight to provide for their family who also claims to believe in Christ be walking in the faith? They cannot. You cannot claim the Godman who spoke the world into existence who also surrendered His glory for a time and died to provide us with eternal life while spitting in His face. You cannot truly trust Him with the eternity you cannot yet see if you fail to trust Him with your here and now.
For my Christian friends, understand my argument here clearly: the one who claims Christ and denies Him by the very essence of their living is “worse than a non-believer” by miles. Why? Simple: the atheists and pagans are telling you who they are, and they mean it. They are *honest* in their proclamation in this regard. The Christian who claims Christ and yet treats His provision with contempt lies about the very core of what they are about.
And so it ALSO goes also with the Christian who refuses to show affection to the church itself. If Christ died for the bride, regardless of how much a mess she may be, He loves her with the very core of His being. He loves her enough to suffer humiliation and even death to obtain her. How much more so should we also love her and give our time, attention, and affections to her cause. For her cause is HIS cause. If we love HIM, we must love HER.
Is there anything you were given that you did not receive? (1 Cor. 4:7) Then why do you pretend it belongs to you and you alone? If you claim Christ then to Christ you belong along with everything and everyone around you.
And so, I come back to the video of the old Japanese man showing his appreciation for something as mundane as a machine: where is our thankfulness when we’re at work, when we’re serving our families, and when we’re in church? I, personally, have found my zeal located at the point where I recognize and give thanks for God’s provision. Meet me there and we will give thanks together.
Amen.