A Family Man
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." (Galatians 6:9-10)
Ah, Famiglia or Family. Later, Paul took provision for one’s family to the next level when he wrote Timothy saying - "If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." - 1 Timothy 5:8
Wow! I did not know that life got worse than being an unbeliever. However, this importance of providing for his/her family has plenty of Scriptural support.
If you were a part of a family within Israel, you were connected, you did things as a unit (Judges 16:31; 1 Samuel 1:21). Therefore, what happened to you, directly or indirectly, affected others in your family also (Judges 8:27; 1 Samuel 22:16). An "all for one and one for all" mentality prevailed, whether the other members of the family liked it or not. This was not healthy for some families because of certain bad apples that God, kings or officials had to deal with by killing that family member. The families then would also die as a result of this family member's mischievous actions (1 Kings 16:11; 2 Kings 10:17; 2 Kings 11:1).
However, there were times when what happened to one-and-all was good. Luke documents for us in Acts 16:33-34 a jailer and his family's salvation –
“At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God--he and his whole family.”
As a jailer, an unbeliever hears the message and songs of the Gospel, at the midnight hour from his prisoners Paul and Silas who were in stocks and chains. The power of God in two men who had their relationship right with God and their family affairs in order, resulted in God changing not only the jailer’s life but his entire family for God’s glory.
In stressing provision for blood family and our spiritual family, Paul draws on the believer’s remembrance of such tenets as -
"Honor your father and mother (this is the first commandment with a promise), that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land." (Ephesians 6:2-3) and
"Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck." (Proverbs 1:8-9)
The use of the word "especially" is no accident in both cases of scripture mentioned earlier – Galatians 6:9-10 and 1 Timothy 5:8. Applying "especially" in any sentence brings a special focus to whatever person, place or thing that comes afterward. Here, provision for family is emphasized.
However, there is an order to the Christian's development. Before believers in Christ make good, dependable servants for each other, they need to pay attention to their development as a member of their own blood family.
I realize not everyone's blood family development is or has been smooth and filled with decisions for Christ but those choosing to be in the Body of Christ need to realize, accept and capitalize on the fact that Family [blood] Trains For Family [spirit].
1 Peter 4:17 states “For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?”
However, how we treat others around us, including our brothers/sisters in Christ, begins with how we treat ourselves and blood family. This treatment starts in the immediate family unit, ramping up to the bigger family scene (aunts, uncles, and cousins), and finally pours into one's church family. If we don't care about the needs in our family and help when we know we can, then judgment is upon us and our help may not be very helpful to others within the Church Family. Paul confirms this thought by admonishing Timothy –
“If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?” (1 Timothy 3:5)
So, what does it mean to "manage" your family? The original Greek word here is Proistemi (pro-is'-tay-mee). This is a compound word, a joining of two words to form one. The two words are - Pro and Histemi (his-tay-mee).
Pro is a primary preposition meaning before, in front of, or above - as in a position. Histemi means abide, appoint; stand-by, stand-forth, stand-still and stand-up.
You combine the two and you have someone in the family, preferably the Father (though not always the case), who should stand before the family as a steadfast and faithful fixture in the home and delegate, protect and know when to simply chill or abide.
This is a great beginning step to having a spiritually healthy blood family and eventually healthy contributing church family member – a proper, Godly leader of the family at home that meets the provisions as best as possible and allows that love to spill over to the local church.
Another way The Entire Family grows, the individual blood families represented within the church and The Church as a family, is to hear testimony of the Lord's goodness.
Jesus said, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." (Mark 5:19) One of the few times you will see Jesus not restrain somebody from telling what happened to them or telling who He is.
Again, Galatians 6:10 sums it up nicely – “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people [including blood family], especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Believers in Christ are family, it is high time Christians make sure we act like family, especially if you want to be A Family Man.
Comments
Post a Comment