1 Timothy 5:8 “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.“

This is a difficult truth for many Christians to hear today. “But if anyone does not provide for his own,”… you could also use the word “since” in place of “if”. Paul was most likely referring to a practice that was taking place at Ephesus, namely, Christians not taking care of widows or their families financially. “His own” refers to the brethren, (other Christians) and “those of his household” is self-explanatory. Men are called to be the sole financial provider for their family.

The harsh reality of this is that women are NOT to be financial providers for their families, at least not for basic needs. Food, clothing, housing, insurance and other expenses are all to be covered by the husband’s salary. We learn from the wisdom of Proverbs 31 that a woman is to tend to her husband as her first ministry, followed by her children and managing the household and finances. Once those things are in order, she can run a home business to supplement the family income.

If you don’t think your family can afford to live on just the husband’s salary, you need to examine God’s will for your life. After that, you need to cut your budget. Are you heading to the coffee shop on a daily basis? How often are you eating out, or grabbing fast food? Do you really need cable TV? If your wife is working, you might need child care, or be forced to place your children in public school. When we cut a lot of the junk expenses out of our lives, we come to the realization that our wife’s salary doesn’t cover nearly as much as we think it does.

“He has denied the faith,” a terrible indictment from Paul. The family order, which calls for wives to be at home with the children and ministering to the household, and husbands to toil in the field, is turned upside down. If you’re relying on credit to pay for things you want, you’re denying the faith. Your testimony is damaged, because you’re telling the world that the God you serve is unable to provide all your earthly needs.

Men, if you’re not providing for your own, you’re not living up to the principle of Christian love. We’re to take care of the widows in our family, we’re to take care of our wives and children, and we’re commanded to do so with our own salary. If your wife is working because you’ve ordered her to, you need to seriously re-prioritize your life, because you’re out of God’s will.

“And is worse than an unbeliever.” Some translations use the word “infidel” instead of “unbeliever”. Most pagans in Paul’s time naturally took care of these duties, caring for their households. If a Christian failed to do so, they were, of course, behaving worse than an unbeliever.

Here’s a thought to close on: If we can’t afford something, is it God’s will for us to have it? In other words, do you really need two car leases, a mortgage, and several maxed out credit cards? If you’re truly a Christian, you already know the answer. This is a Tenth Commandment issue, and you’re guilty of a covetous heart. Here’s something else to consider from the Word:

1 Cor. 5:11 “But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner – not even to eat with such a person.” (NKJ)

If you’re guilty of being covetous, you’re not keeping very good company in the Lord’s eyes.