What’s “Worse” Than an Unbeliever?

“Blessed are the breadwinners. As men, we should consider it an honor to embrace our role as the primary providers of our families. This is part of our manhood and calling as representatives of God the Father — the One who established work as part of His creation and is still ‘working‘ (John 5:17) as an example for us to follow, continually providing for our daily needs” (From The Resolution, page 157).

Whether you love your job or hate your job, God desires that you embrace the blessed opportunity to provide for your family through your vocation. Unfortunately, many men find themselves unemployed and unable to provide for their families. Many different reasons exist for unemployment. Some men are unemployed for no wrongdoing on their part, but economic times have caused their jobs to be discarded. Some men are unemployed due to their bad attitude or lazy work ethic. Other men are unemployed because they quit because they thought they deserved more than their current job.

Your reasoning for unemployment will determine your method for finding a job.

If you become unemployed because of sinful behavior (harassment, laziness, sarcasm, etc.), you need to repent before God and eagerly seek out a job as a way to provide for your family and to honor God in the workplace. If you become unemployed due to circumstances beyond your control, you need to seek God’s help and relentlessly pursue job opportunities in order to provide for your family and honor God in the workplace. Reasoning may be different, but regardless of what caused you to lose your job, as a man, you are responsible to find a new one.

Take a moment and read the words in 1 Timothy 5:8.

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.

Paul’s words are scathing. To call someone who does not provide for his family as denying the faith and calling him worse than an unbeliever is a very serious charge. The implication is that a man of God will not allow his family to go without. Through prayer, active pursuit of new jobs, and a willingness to work for even humbling job opportunities, a man of God will not rest until his family’s needs are provided.

Many godly men have taken jobs that were embarrassing in front of fellow men but honoring before God. Are you willing to do what it takes to provide for your family? Seek out employment. Pray that God provides a job. Humble yourself and take what he sends you, and watch how your example changes your children’s lives forever.