Welcome back to the podcast, men! What does it really mean to be a provider?

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Physical Needs are the Start

Being a Biblical provider is not limited to putting a roof over your family’s head and food on the table, but it certainly includes that.

1 Timothy 5:8 But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.

1. Just did a whole series on work and the fact that work is good. God created us to work. Not going to go back and dig into those specifics. You can go back and review those episodes.
2. You should be the hardest working member of your household. I didn’t necessarily say you should be the primary breadwinner. I think you should be a breadwinner, but If you and your wife both work and she makes more than you, you shouldn’t carry around shame. I think the church in America has laid a lot of unnecessary guilt on both men and women in this regard. Read Proverbs 31. That was a wife who definitely contributed financially to the household and she’s praised for it. I know it was primarily an agricultural economy then, there wasn’t a lot of surplus, but I don’t think we should just throw that away in our current services and data centered economy.
3. I know some couples who are very good stewards with the resources God has given them. They don’t spend lavishly. They’re generous, and they need two incomes to make ends meet. And there are other couples who could get by on one income, but choose not to because of their lifestyle.

Affirm, Encourage, Correct

As husbands and fathers we’re called to provide encouragement, affirmation, and correction to our wives and children.

1. Difference between Affirmation and Encouragement

Affirmation

Matthew 3:16-17 After Jesus was baptized, He went up immediately from the water. The heavens suddenly opened for Him,[i] and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on Him. 17 And there came a voice from heaven: This is My beloved Son. I take delight in Him!

Matthew 17:5-6 But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.” 6 The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground.

Encouragement

1 Thessalonians 5:11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

Correction

Proverbs 15:5 Only a fool despises a parent’s[a] discipline; whoever learns from correction is wise.

Proverbs 17:10 A single rebuke does more for a person of understanding than a hundred lashes on the back of a fool.

1. Sure, John, why don’t you try correcting my wife and see how that goes. Does she trust you? Does she know you want the best for her? Some of that may be on her and I pray that other Godly women speak into her life. I pray that her pastor or other spiritual leaders can speak into her life.
2. You need to be willing to receive correction from her. She’s your helpmate. She sees the blindspots most others won’t see.

Talk the Talk and Walk the Walk

We are called to create an environment where Gospel conversations are normal and the Gospel is modeled in our lifestyle. We are called to create an environment in our home where it is safe for our children to ask questions and be honest about doubts.

2 Timothy 2:2 You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.

1. Are you connecting the hot buttons of today to the Gospel? Are you using tools like PG to have Bible based conversations on issues like pre-marital sex, drug use, suicide, homosexuality, transgenderism