Providing for Relatives

^“Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” 1Timothy 5:8 (N.I.V)

All cultures obligate people to take care of their relatives and especially close family members like children and elderly parents who are naturally dependent on them. This is a good thing that is practiced by all in spite of their faith and Christians should be ahead in taking up such virtues: otherwise their faith will not be taken seriously. But where any tradition or religion goes against this rule, then a true believer in Christ should honor it.

People should not put tradition and culture ahead of their natural and Christian duty. This was the sad case presented in a daily newspaper article. An elderly lady is living a life of squalor in a dilapidated hut and her close family members have refused to help her because she had adamantly refused to go through a burial ritual she thought detestable. They thought her refusal would bring them a curse. But which curse is stronger than God’s judgment of those who do not obey his commandments?

Jesus gave his harsh sentence of a Jewish tradition which allowed one to escape the duty of helping their parents by declaring that something which would have been used to help them had been dedicated to God. He said, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is ‘devoted to God,’ they are not to ‘honor their father or mother’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition”.

Let your faith lead you to true wisdom.

*****

No gift to your mother can ever equal her gift to you life.

*****