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.
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.
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.
Luke 12:33 – Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.
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.
1 Timothy 5:3 – Take care of any widow who has no one else to care for her.
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.
Luke 14:33 – In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.
Luke 12:33 – Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.
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 – Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith!
The first century church understood this concept clearly:
Acts 2:44-45 – All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.
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. 36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
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?
Luke 12:29-30 – And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them.
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.
Mark 16:15 – He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
Matthew 28:19 – Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
Mark 13:10 – And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.
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’.
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.
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.
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 context behind Paul’s remarks in:
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.
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.
Matthew 5:46-47 – If you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Even the tax collectors do the same, don’t they? 47And if you greet only your relatives, that’s no great thing you’re doing, is it? Even the unbelievers do the same, don’t they?
Luke 6:32-34 – “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.
Matthew 6:7-8 – And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
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?”
John 4:34 – “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
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.
Matthew 6:32 – These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.
Matthew 6:32 (BLB) – For the Gentiles seek after all these things. For your Heavenly Father knows that you have need of them all.
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.
Matthew 6:25-34 – “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 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. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Now we can see that 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’.
He says the same thing in:
Matthew 10:10 – no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep.
In the following scriptures, Paul states:
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.
1 Corinthians 9:6 – Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living?
1 Corinthians 9:6 NIV – Or is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living?
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 – There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.
This changed once provision and assistance came from the church of Macedonia.
Acts 18:5 – And after Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul spent all his time preaching the word. He testified to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah.
2 Corinthians 11:7-9 – Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. 9 And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.
1 Corinthians 9:3-12 & 18 – 3 This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. 4 Don’t we have the right to food and drink? 5 Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas? 6 Or is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living?
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.
continued…1 Corinthians 9:7 – Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? 8 Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned? 10 Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. 11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?
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 – And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. 5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. 6 So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7 But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
The Phillipian church, which was another Macedonian church also sent financial aid to Paul.
Acts 16:12 – From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.
Phillipians 4:14-18 – Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. 17 Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. 18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.
As we can see, Paul was provided for through other churches which is why he stated:
2 Corinthians 11:7-9 – Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. 9 And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.
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 – The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 18 For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.
And so in no way has this concept been nullified which Jesus stated in Luke 10:7.
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.
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.
1 Peter 2:9 – But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
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.
Romans 12:1 – Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Romans 15:16 – to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
Hebrews 13:15 – Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.
Revelation 5:10 – You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.
1 Peter 2:5 – And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.
We now do the work of the Levites spiritually.
Deuteronomy 10:8 – At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister and to pronounce blessings in his name, as they still do today.
Numbers 3:31 – They were responsible for the care of the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the articles of the sanctuary used in ministering, the curtain, and everything related to their use.
Numbers 8:19 – From among all the Israelites, I have given the Levites as gifts to Aaron and his sons to do the work at the tent of meeting on behalf of the Israelites and to make atonement for them so that no plague will strike the Israelites when they go near the sanctuary.
Numbers 1:48-53 – The Lord had said to Moses: 49 “You must not count the tribe of Levi or include them in the census of the other Israelites. 50 Instead, appoint the Levites to be in charge of the tabernacle of the covenant law—over all its furnishings and everything belonging to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; they are to take care of it and encamp around it. 51 Whenever the tabernacle is to move, the Levites are to take it down, and whenever the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall do it. Anyone else who approaches it is to be put to death. 52 The Israelites are to set up their tents by divisions, each of them in their own camp under their standard. 53 The Levites, however, are to set up their tents around the tabernacle of the covenant law so that my wrath will not fall on the Israelite community. The Levites are to be responsible for the care of the tabernacle of the covenant law.
Numbers 3:5-10 – The Lord said to Moses, 6 “Bring the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him. 7 They are to perform duties for him and for the whole community at the tent of meeting by doing the work of the tabernacle. 8 They are to take care of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, fulfilling the obligations of the Israelites by doing the work of the tabernacle. 9 Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to him. 10 Appoint Aaron and his sons to serve as priests; anyone else who approaches the sanctuary is to be put to death.”
Numbers 18:2-7 – 2 Bring your fellow Levites from your ancestral tribe to join you and assist you when you and your sons minister before the tent of the covenant law. 3 They are to be responsible to you and are to perform all the duties of the tent, but they must not go near the furnishings of the sanctuary or the altar. Otherwise both they and you will die. 4 They are to join you and be responsible for the care of the tent of meeting—all the work at the tent—and no one else may come near where you are.
5 “You are to be responsible for the care of the sanctuary and the altar, so that my wrath will not fall on the Israelites again. 6 I myself have selected your fellow Levites from among the Israelites as a gift to you, dedicated to the Lord to do the work at the tent of meeting. 7 But only you and your sons may serve as priests in connection with everything at the altar and inside the curtain. I am giving you the service of the priesthood as a gift. Anyone else who comes near the sanctuary is to be put to death.
1 Chronicles 15:1-2 – After David had constructed buildings for himself in the City of David, he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. 2 Then David said, “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the Lord chose them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister before him forever.”
In the Old Testament, the Levites were spoken of in the same fashion:
Deuteronomy 18:1-2 – The Levitical priests—indeed, the whole tribe of Levi—are to have no allotment or inheritance with Israel. They shall live on the food offerings presented to the Lord, for that is their inheritance. 2 They shall have no inheritance among their fellow Israelites; the Lord is their inheritance, as he promised them.
Deuteronomy 14:29 – so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
Numbers 18:20 – The Lord said to Aaron, “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them; I am your share and your inheritance among the Israelites.
Deuteronomy 10:9 – That is why the Levites have no share or inheritance among their fellow Israelites; the Lord is their inheritance, as the Lord your God told them.
As priests of God, we have no share in the world and its goods. Our allotment is God’s provision for us.
Deuteronomy 14:27 – And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own.
Deuteronomy 12:19 – Be careful not to neglect the Levites as long as you live in your land.
Numbers 18:21 – To the Levites I have given every tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service that they do, their service in the tent of meeting,
Deuteronomy 14:28-29 – At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns, 29 so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
Numbers 18:24 – Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the Lord. That is why I said concerning them: ‘They will have no inheritance among the Israelites.
And even the Levites must tithe:
Numbers 18:26 – Speak to the Levites and say to them: ‘When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the Lord’s offering.
Nehemiah 10:38 – A priest descended from Aaron is to accompany the Levites when they receive the tithes, and the Levites are to bring a tenth of the tithes up to the house of our God, to the storerooms of the treasury.
If we take 1 Timothy 5:8 in the way that today’s church interprets it, then we are calling Jesus, Peter and the other disciples/Apostles worse than unbelievers!
Hebrews 13:5-8 – Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” 6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” 7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
On behalf of all the disciples, Peter stated:
Matthew 19:27 – Then Peter said to him, “We’ve given up everything to follow you. What will we get?”
Mark 10:28 – Then Peter began to speak up. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said.
Luke 18:28 (Amplified Bible) – Peter said, “Look, we have left all [things—homes, families, businesses] and followed You.”
Peter had a wife and his widowed mother in law living with him.
Mark 1:30 – Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her.
Infact, all of the Apostles had wives, except for Paul and Barnabas.
1 Corinthians 9:5 – Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?
We also know that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a widow, and yet Jesus stated:
Luke 9:58 – Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.
Matthew 8:20 – Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.
The scriptures state:
1 John 2:6 – Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.
According to today’s churches’ interpretation of 1 Timothy 5:8 which says “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” – the disciples/Apostles and Jesus himself were worse than unbelievers. Obviously, this is inaccurate and the church has misinterpreted this scripture. The church has manipulated the scriptures to suit the peoples’ lack of faith in God’s provision.
Galatians 1:6-10 – I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!
10 Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Acts 20:29-31 – I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
1 Thessalonians 2:3-6 – For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4 On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. 5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. 6 We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority.
Jesus and the disciples interpreted this scripture differently as all of the disciples had left their jobs and businesses in order to follow Jesus, even though they had families and widows in their care. They had faith that God would provide for them and their families.
Believing in God’s ability to provide is essential for every Christian. If we limit God’s power, the word of God states that we are tempting the Lord God by not believing in His supernatural provision. This is the mistake the children of Israel made in the wilderness.
Psalm 78:41 – Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.
Another translation says:
Psalm 78:41 NKJV – Yes, again and again they tempted God, And limited the Holy One of Israel.
When we refuse to believe in God’s provision, we are like the children of Israel when they tempted God in the wilderness. They did not believe in His supernatural provision, thus limiting the Holy one of Israel.
Psalm 78:7-8 – So each generation should set its hope anew on God,not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands. 8 Then they will not be like their ancestors—stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God.
The children of Israel were not satisfied with God’s provision.
Psalm 78:18 – And in their heart they put God to the test By asking for food that suited their taste.
They tempted God by doubting His provision.
Psalm 78:19-22 – They spoke against God; they said, “Can God really spread a table in the wilderness? 20 True, he struck the rock, and water gushed out, streams flowed abundantly, but can he also give us bread? Can he supply meat for his people?” 21 When the Lord heard them, he was furious; his fire broke out against Jacob, and his wrath rose against Israel, 22 for they did not believe in God or trust in his deliverance.
The children of Israel did not believe in God’s provision and when He did provide for them, they were not satisfied with it either. This is what we are like in God’s eyes when we refuse to give up all and follow Jesus and preach the gospel.
Luke 14:33 – In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.
Luke 12:33 – Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.
Either we don’t believe in God’s provision or we believe we will not be satisfied with His provision.
Psalm 78:36-37 – But then they would flatter him with their mouths, lying to him with their tongues; 37 their hearts were not loyal to him, they were not faithful to his covenant.
This is also what our current generation is like when we praise God with our lips but in our hearts, we limit Him by doubting His ability to supernaturally provide for us and our families. We limit God when we believe he can only provide for us through our worldly jobs. Thus, forsaking our true calling of preaching the gospel by doubting God’s supernatural provision.
Mark 7:6-8 – He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 7 They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’ 8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”
Luke 12:33 and 14:33 clearly state that as followers of Christ, we are to sell our possessions and give it to the poor and God will provide for our needs. However, today’s followers of Christ follow the current church’s teachings which do not speak of this doctrine of Jesus. They teach that God provides through our worldly jobs. Due to fear and a lack of faith, we choose to follow church traditions instead.
Mark 7:9 & 13 – And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!… 13 Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”
Isaiah 29:13 – The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.
Matthew 15:3, 6-9 – Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? … 6 Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. 7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: 8 “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 9 They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.
We must obey the words and doctrines of Jesus and not the traditions of the church.
John 7:16 – Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me.
Matthew 15:3 – Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?
Luke 14:33 – In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.
Luke 12:31-33 – But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. 32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.
Matthew 6:32-33 – For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Through His miraculous ways, God has allowed us to see and understand the truth. He has been faithful to lead us thus far, yet we are still limiting His power by not believing in His miraculous provision. If God can provide for a mass exodus of people in a barren wilderness, we must have faith that He can provide for us and our families.
Psalm 78:40-55 – How often they provoked Him in the wilderness, And grieved Him in the desert! 41Yes, again and again they tempted God, And limited the Holy One of Israel. 42They did not remember His power: The day when He redeemed them from the enemy, 43When He worked His signs in Egypt, And His wonders in the field of Zoan; 44Turned their rivers into blood, And their streams, that they could not drink. 45He sent swarms of flies among them, which devoured them, And frogs, which destroyed them. 46He also gave their crops to the caterpillar, And their labor to the locust. 47He destroyed their vines with hail, And their sycamore trees with frost. 48He also gave up their cattle to the hail, And their flocks to fiery lightning. 49He cast on them the fierceness of His anger, Wrath, indignation, and trouble, By sending angels of destruction among them. 50He made a path for His anger; He did not spare their soul from death, But gave their life over to the plague, 51And destroyed all the firstborn in Egypt, The first of their strength in the tents of Ham. 52But He made His own people go forth like sheep, And guided them in the wilderness like a flock; 53And He led them on safely, so that they did not fear; But the sea overwhelmed their enemies. 54And He brought them to His holy border, This mountain which His right hand had acquired. 55He also drove out the nations before them, Allotted them an inheritance by survey, And made the tribes of Israel dwell in their tents.
Psalm 78:56-59 – But they put God to the test and rebelled against the Most High; they did not keep his statutes. 57 Like their ancestors they were disloyal and faithless, as unreliable as a faulty bow. 58 They angered him with their high places; they aroused his jealousy with their idols. 59 When God heard them, he was furious; he rejected Israel completely.
When we seek after money, we are making money and possessions our God.
Colossians 3:5 – Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
Colossians 3:5 (ESV) – Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
Ephesians 5:5 – For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Ephesians 5:5 (ESV) – For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
When we spend our whole lives here on earth pursuing money through our worldly jobs, which amounts to seeking after ‘eating, drinking and clothing’, we are being greedy and covetous. Continuing to live as those who still belong to the world, means that we doubt God’s ability to supernaturally provide for us, and we tempt Him, by limiting His power.
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