1 Timothy 5:8 (NET) But if someone does not provide for his own, especially his own family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
One of the reasons Biola hated her father so much was because of how much they suffered when she was a child, and yet she knew her father had money but refused to provide for them. He would rather spend his money on drinking and strange women. Her mother was a petty trader who couldn’t provide enough to take care of them, so they had to go live with relatives who maltreated them. It took the grace of God at work in Biola’s heart to make her able to forgive her father when he was now old, withered and needed the help of the same people he had abandoned.
One of the strongest signs that a person has been born of God is manifested in his ability to love (see 1 John 4:7). A person truly born of God has the divine nature that makes him able to love even his enemies. For such a person, loving his family, friends, and neighbors is second nature.
The way love works, it is manifested more strongly with those with whom you have the closest proximity or dealings. A person who loves would love his Christian brethren, family members, neighbors, and even enemies (enemies usually have a certain level of proximity that strangers don’t have), and strangers.
But when you see someone who is supposed to be born of God that refuses to provide for his household (which means he doesn’t love them), it either means he was never born of God or he has denied the faith. When a person denies the faith, it is manifested in the cessation of love in his heart.
It is also important that believers work with their hands so that they are able to provide for their households and the people who depend on them– this is an attribute of love. In the kingdom of God, we do not have an entitlement mentality (which breeds laziness), we believe that we are eternally blessed, so we allow this blessing to find expression in the work we do by being diligent and faithful.
Go into today remembering that love in your heart is the greatest proof that you have been born of God. 1 John 3:18-19 (NET) Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue but in deed and truth. And by this we will know that we are of the truth and will convince our conscience in his presence.
Prayer: Lord, give me a heart that truly loves. Bless the works of my hands and help me able to provide for those who depend on me. Amen.
Want to be saved? Click here: streamglobe.org/33
— Abraham Damilola Arigi
Bible in one year: Genesis 36-39 (In Devotional Audio)
Streamglobe is nondenominational. Kindly share this Devotional with your contacts and let’s touch lives together.
WhatsApp: +2348034420524, +2349055565838
You can always get more Devotionals at www.streamglobe.org
Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()
Subscribe: RSS