Worse Than An Unbeliever? Understanding 1 Timothy 5:8

[Amos Ministries]

1 Timothy 5:8 - Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

1 Timothy 5:8 is another commonly misinterpreted scripture. Oftentimes, this scripture is taken out of context and used to encourage Christians to seek after worldly employment instead of seeking the Holy Spirit, preaching the gospel and receiving God’s provision.

Provision is not just limited to money. It means whatever assistance is needed, whether physical, emotional, financial, etc. This would also include helping to pay a family members’ bills or having them live with you, if needed.

This scripture is often taken out of context, as it seems like it contradicts Jesus’ commandment for every follower to give up all in order to be his disciple.

Luke 14:33 - In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

The Context of 1 Timothy 5:8

If we read all of 1 Timothy 5, we see that Paul is mainly speaking about caring for women who are truly widows, meaning those who have no children to rely on for assistance. Although this chapter also speaks about the relatives in a man’s household, the main focus is about widows.

Paul is stating that a true widow who needs financial assistance from the church, is one who has no children or grandchildren. For if a widow has children or grandchildren, it is their responsibility to look after the widows in their family, whether it is financially or anything else they may require (spending time, physical assistance, etc).

1 Timothy 5:16 - If any woman who is a believer has widows in her care, she should continue to help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.

This is the focal point of 1 Timothy 5. The basis of this chapter is for believers to assist the widows in their own family, so that the church can help those widows who are truly in need and do not have family to turn to.

1 Timothy 5:5 - The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help.

Now we can see the context and main focus of 1 Timothy 5:8. Paul states that anyone who has a widow in their family and does not assist them, whether financially or otherwise, is worse than an unbeliever.

When you understand the context behind 1 Timothy 5:8, you will realize that in no way, shape or form, does this scripture contradict Jesus’ commandment in Luke 12:33 & Luke 14:33.

In Luke 12, Jesus tells us not to seek after money and possessions such as clothing and food. Our Lord assures us that if we put seeking and keeping the Holy Spirit first priority in our lives, God will add to us all the things that we need without us seeking for it or even asking Him for it. Luke 12:22-28

The first century church understood this concept clearly:

Acts 4:34-37 - that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

Jesus states that the flowers neither toil nor spin (labor), yet God provides for them. The birds do not sow, or reap, nor do they have store houses or bank accounts, yet God provides for them. So then, how much more will God provide for his children?

The pagan world spends most of their time working at a job for the reasons of earning money for eating, drinking, clothing and shelter. On the contrary, as a child of God, our priority should be different. We are meant to be about our Father’s business. This is achieved through preaching the word of God, putting receiving and keeping the Holy Spirit first priority in our lives, and God will provide for us and our families.

If we do nothing but worry and seek after money, possessions, food and clothing through an earthly job, what difference is there between us and an unbeliever? This is where we find the connection between Paul’s statement and Jesus’.

If a person claims to be a believer, he will seek the Holy Spirit as first priority, preach the gospel and receive his provision from God. However, if he does not provide for his household and the widows within his family with the provision God has given him, then he is worse than an unbeliever. This is because even though unbelievers make their lives about seeking after money, eating and drinking, they still look after their families and the widows in their family through the provision they worked for.

During Biblical times, there was no Government safety net or pension, so a widow’s family took the responsibility of caring for her. However, after the first century church came about, the church began to care for the widows in the church.

Acts 6:1 - In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

Some believers thought this was a good way to shirk the responsibility of looking after the widows in their family by burdening the church. This is the context behind Paul’s remarks in 1 Timothy 5:8.

Paul is not stating that all believers should stop preaching the gospel so that they can find worldly jobs and be like pagans in the pagan world. On the contrary, Christians should not be making their lives about seeking after money for food, drink and clothing like the pagans. Instead, he is stating that with the provision you receive from God, you are to look after your own household, relatives and the widows in your family without burdening the church.

On numerous occasions, Jesus states that we are not to be like unbelievers:

Matthew 6:31-32 - So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

The Apostle Paul is not telling us to be like unbelievers who have no faith in God’s provision at all. He is stating that they at least still provide for their families out of their worldly provisions. Refusing to provide for our relatives and widows with the provision we have received from God makes us worse than an unbeliever - as even the unbelievers look after their families and widows with the provision they seek.

Jesus is stating not to make our lives about eating, drinking and clothing through seeking after money for these things, and spending the little time we have on this earth on worldly jobs. We should be about our Father’s business.

Luke 2:49 - And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”

Instead, our focus should be on seeking the Holy Spirit, and God will provide the things that we need, as He knows we need these things. We seek and keep the Holy Spirit by remaining repentant and not compromising the teachings of Jesus.

God knows that we need these things and we must have faith that He will provide. God will provide enough for us, our families and the widows in our family. He will provide for all of our needs.

Paul is comparing the unbelievers' way of providing for his family out of his provision to the professed believers, who should be doing the same and more, out of his provision from God. If he is not doing so, he is even worse than the unbeliever since at least an unbeliever looks after his family and widows with his provision. 1 Timothy 5:8 is not telling Christians to make sure they are seeking after money, food, drink and clothing, by keeping worldly jobs. Instead, this scripture is instructing believers on how to administer the provision they receive from God.

Paul is referring to work and provision as preaching the gospel and allowing God to provide for you. When Jesus sent the disciples out two by two to preach the gospel, he said:

Luke 10:7 - Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.

Jesus is referring to preaching the gospel as ‘work’, and anything that is given to the disciples as God’s provision or ‘wages’.

1 Corinthians 9:14 - In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

Paul is speaking of working for a living in a literal way. He claims that the other apostles and preachers of the gospel did not physically work for a living. Instead, they preached the gospel for a living and this was the work that Jesus was speaking of.

Peter also confirms this in:

Acts 6:2 - So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program.

The work of God is preaching the word of God. Some people believe that Paul is stating that he worked a worldly job while he preached. At one point early on, Paul did work at a worldly job. However, when we look into Paul’s financial situation further, we see that this was only temporary. Acts 18:2-4

This changed once provision and assistance came from the church of Macedonia.

Acts 18:5, 2 Corinthians 11:7-9 & 1 Corinthians 9:3-12 & 18

Paul is stating that preachers of the gospel have the right not to work for a living as the world does, since they are working through the preaching of the gospel.

Preachers of the gospel have the right to be provided for their needs through the preaching of the gospel which is their work.

continued...1 Corinthians 9:12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more?...18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel.

For a moment in verse 12, it seems that Paul is also contradicting himself. But we must look elsewhere within Paul’s letters to gain context in regards to his financial situation. The church in Macedonia gave financial aid and other provisions to Paul.

2 Corinthians 8:1-7

The Phillipian church, which was another Macedonian church also sent financial aid to Paul.

Acts 16:12 & Phillipians 4:14-18

As we can see, Paul was provided for through other churches,so now we understand why Paul stated:

1 Corinthians 9:12 - If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more?

But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.

In order to preach the gospel free of charge to the Corinthians, Paul used the aid he received from other churches. This does not mean that Paul did not receive wages for his work in the preaching of the gospel.

Continued...1 Corinthians 9:13-14 - Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

Paul is clearly stating that preachers of the gospel should receive their living from the gospel. Paul also speaks of this in 1 Timothy 5:17-18.
And so in no way has this concept been nullified which Jesus stated in Luke 10:7.

It has always been this way for preachers of the gospel of God. We are a nation of priests in God’s eyes. We must all preach the gospel whilst God provides for our needs.

Revelation 1:6 - He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

We now do the work of the Levites spiritually. In the Old Testament, the Levites were spoken of in the same fashion.

[DrNoGods]

[Replying to Amos Ministries in post #1]

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[Falling Light 101]

If we can understand The Biblical reality that explains  -  that responsible and Godly people should not believe that birth control is evil  - we can then begin to uphold and return back to the true important Biblical faith that upholds our  family tree  and places great value   -  in exactly who our fathers are and who they are not.
With so many communities worldwide, however, all forms of  birth control  are illegal, banned and against    the law and  are considered evil and immoral,  to the effect - we have billions of misbegotten children born in broken homes, millions of  childen born to irresponsible unmarried   individuals
This is the sad situation in most every single one of these communities around the world and this has not changed for hundreds of years.  Worldwide today, there lives so many people with the expectation that the  people outside of their faith and community are  obligated, beholden and  eternally bound to the duty of having their bank accounts and financial earnings and saving raided, robbed and ripped away from them by empowered Politicians and Governments that thee same communities continually vote into power.
If we can get back to the  Bible  -  and  -  get back to  Scriptural  family  ideas  and  Bible ethics, we would see that being responsible and having sexual relationships  between  husband and wife is God's plan for pleasure, enjoyment, love and excitement and complete sexual satisfaction.     

IN  FACT  -  the continual mass producing  of many, many  impoverished and hungry, needy and weakened children that you nor your sexual partner  -  nor your religious facilities and communities can never hope to take care of and financially support and  properly nourish and raise.
This is so much more immoral than committing adultery and fornication
is truly so much worse, so much more evil, wicked, cruel and harmful than  even living a prostitute lifestyle
The evidence shows that individuals within these communities in  fact  -   do not have sexual pleasures simply for the sole purpose that they    "  only have sex  "    because they want to mass produce an over abundant of children so that they can work  responsibly  themselves and make a financial income  -  and personally take care of the children themselves.   
all of the other irresponsible parents of the world who knowingly continually have many children born to them, knowing that they do not have a financial plan for them, nor even a society than can handle and increase such an irresponsible rate of growth   -  they all have sexual intercourse and mass produce so many many children -   because they want to enjoy  and feel the sexual pleasures and the lust of their members.
So having sex in a married relationship and producing children that you are unable to provide for is the same or even worse than being a heretic or an infidel.
1Ti 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. 
But there is a huge conflict and a major problem with this situation, the holy decrees, rules, mandates and orders of a  system,  that demands that  using  sex  just  for  sexual  and  sensual  purposes  is  very  immoral, very evil and ungodly. 
But  THE  BIBLE   speaks about this matter and it commands that we are to have romance and sensual relationships with our spouses  -  just for the sake of gratification and pleasure and enjoyment alone.
The Bible explains all of this and tells us very clearly   -  as we see in these verses below....
Pro 5:18  Let thy vein / fountain  be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of thy youth: 

:19  Let her be thy dearest hind, and most agreeable fawn: let her breasts inebriate thee at all times: be thou delighted continually with her love. 
 
We see that the apostles even in the New Testament such as St Peter and James and other apostles  and even the  blood  brothers  of  Yahoshua  had  wives.  -  As we see clearly in   - 1Co 9:5 
1Co 9:5  Have we not power to lead about a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? 
  Peter was married   - Mt 8:14-15   _  Mk 1:29-31  +  Lk 4:38   -   all  say that  St  Peter  had a  mother  in law.   Yet  when we read the other Translation we are led to believe that the apostles  such as St   Peter, who are married men are also involved in taking also other women with them when they travel abroad  -  who are simply sisters in the Lord.   But St Paul was saying that the apostles have the power and right to get married and have wives.
Also, we see clearly the importance of having fathers who have placed a quality and importance in a family name and an inheritance.  The Family name is the Inheritance.  This is so important in the Bible,
 
Pro 19:14  House and riches are the  inheritance  of fathers: and a prudent wife   is from the LORD.     :15  Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger. 
Jer 3:18  In those days the house of Juda shall go to the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land which I gave to your fathers. 
There are hundreds of verses  in God's word  -  that place a great importance in being a father to the children, who  places great  IMPORTANCE  to the idea of having children that he can give a  FAMILY  NAME  and an inheritance to his  children.    A  FATHER   -   that admits that  HE  -  himself as a  FATHER  -  FATHERS  SERVING  GOD  -    do  have  sexual relationships with their wives  -  JUST  FOR  ENJOYMENT  -  Just for pleasure and satisfaction and enjoyment...   alone.
But yet we see so many of the same communities around the world  -  continually   -  voting for the most evil, perverse and twisted, demented, horrible, satanic people that exist around the entire world -  they continually vote majority for the Socialist, Liberal Democrat  Politicians  - - simply because they cater to their lifestyle of mass producing billions of  misbegotten  -  fatherless  children
just because they refuse to follow the Bible and refuse to admit that they do have sexual intercourse for the sake of delight, pleasure and enjoyment   -  while they pretend that they are holy and sacred -  by not   using / practicing  birth control  yet at the same time they place no importance in making sure that they can provide for the millions and millions of children -  while they pretend to be having sex because they want to make more children that they know they can never provide for.
 
Do you see the delusion of deception   ?      - that keeps the finances flowing through the hands of those who have the interest, energy and  curiosity and  INTEREST  in  manipulating the translation of a book that most of the world truly have no interest in what it says in the original language.  ?