Today’s devotion was written by Jowan Freeman, a member of Faith Lutheran Church.
“And whoever does not provide for relatives, and especially for family members, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” 1 Timothy 5:8
I have always read these passages and thought there was a deeper hidden message for everyone to interpret and recreate in their own lives. Yet this passage is pretty clear.
This is a passage we can all take personally in one way or another. Maybe some of us will linger to be an older adult. Perhaps nobody will speak harshly to us or give us disrespect. But as believers, our duty is to care for our elderly.
What I’m speaking of is secondhand; it is nothing new. These values were instilled upon us at a young age. For some of us, we were raised to see caring for the elderly as our religious duties. We played with other kids because we respected our parents when they told us too. Do you remember being told, “If you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything at all!” These were part of the virtues that we were taught while growing up.
And before we grew up too fast we had a responsibility to make some repayments back to our parents for some of the things that they had done for us. Not because children troubled our parents, but because we were taught to respect our elders and do as they said. This is pleasant in God’s sight as a child.
At the end of the day we have a responsibility as believers. As believers we are family through God. So whoever does not provide for their relatives and especially for family members, has denied the faith and is worse then an unbeliever.
So share your gifts. Turn the other cheek. In the body of Christ there is respect and honor for all.
Let us pray: Lord, allow us to feel your presence when our day-to-day lives sometimes come with lower levels of respect for elders. As God fearing believers we trust that you will continue to instill these values in us for generations to come. We pray for the youth and elderly in our church, that all would be seen not as a burden, but a blessing. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Daily Devotions 
April 27, 2017 at 5:57 am |
Other scriptures remind us to care for our family, both relatives and our church family.
Exodus 20:12:
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”
Proverbs 22:6:
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Romans 12:5:
“So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”