CARING FOR THE FLOCK

CARING FOR THE FLOCK

 

"But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."　1 Tim. 5:8

Paul was instructing Timothy as to the duty of the Church in the matter of caring for the poor of the flock, especially in the case of such as were widows. That the Church has such a responsibility he made perfectly clear, but he also showed with care how it ought to be safeguarded. Throughout the whole teaching, it is evident that the Apostle considered that in all such matters responsibility first lay with the family (see verses 4 and 16). In our verse this conception finds central and general expression, and nothing could be clearer or more positive. The statement is characterized by that sane, practical commonsense which is everywhere discoverable in Paul's outlook on life. A man's very first responsibility is that of his own, HIS OWN HOUSEHOLD. No call on him must be allowed to take precedence of that, not even that of the work of the Church, and certainly not that of his own pleasures. To neglect to make such provision is to deny the faith, for the faith is that of the way of LOVE in all its most practical bearings. The believer who does so, is worse than an unbeliever, for common human instincts, apart from the teaching of Christ, will prompt a pagan to care for his own flesh and blood. All this is very commonplace, but it is of the utmost importance; for Christianity is the transfiguration of the commonplace, and in proportion as it enables a man to realize all human obligations on the highest level, he is thereby recommending it to others. In a word like this, there is serious rebuke for some, and there is much of comfort for others. The family is God's FIRST CIRCLE OF SOCIETY, and it is MAN'S FIRST SPHERE OF RESPONDSIBILITY.