A Father?s Provision
**Do you agree that being a father is ?the toughest job you?ll ever love,? : http://talk.thelife.com/2006/06/12/a-father’s-provision
“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).
Supplying a family?s needs is a tough job, but the Lord calls every father to the task. Sometimes, though, our hard work yields only the barest of necessities.
No parent should be ashamed that he or she cannot give a child more than life?s essentials. If we were truly pressed to live on only what we need, we might be surprised by how few requirements we actually have. As a boy, I had two pairs of bib overalls, three shirts, and a single pair of shoes. When the soles of my shoes wore out, I put cardboard in them until my mother, a widow, had the money to resole them. The refrigerator was not full, but we had enough to eat, and we had a small home. I did not need any more than the basic elements my mom could provide.
What might come as a surprise is that a man who offers his family much more than the fundamentals can nevertheless be a poor provider. By giving in to every whim and materially spoiling his children or spouse, the household leader is not practicing good family management.
A wise provider knows that boundaries are important in teaching loved ones self – control and discipline. Consequently, he will set limits that are in keeping with the Lord?s purpose for his family.
An old Army slogan said the military was ?the toughest job you?ll ever love,? but fatherhood fits that billing even more aptly. We work hard to provide for our families? needs and, when possible, give well – considered extras. Thankfully, our Father provides us with aid and wisdom to do the job right.
About the Author
This devotional was written by Dr Charles Stanley. Read more about him here: http://www.talk.thelife.com/authors/charles-stanley/
Related Reading
The power of a parent
http://www.mentodayonline.com/family/powerparent.html
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