Family Care Taking

Family

Care Taking

God looks at the responsibility of caring for family so seriously that if we do not provide for our relatives (this reaches far beyond parents and grandparents) especially for the immediate family, “We have denied the faith”

The one who does not consider family the first ministry

Is worse than an unbeliever 

WOW that is heavy

It sure looks like God is saying “Family First”

Families are to take care of themselves

It happens, some family members need help

Our first ministry is to family

Make family first

Pray for all your family members regularly

Look for ways to encourage and serve them

Help others in the family who are main care givers

Look at your own life

Do what you can so you will not become a burden to others 

Remember

“First of all to put their (your) religion into practice by caring for their (your) own family”

Care Taking

The only way not to grow old is to die young.

So I would guess most of us

in light of this, want to grow old.

Growing old has challenges.

I am healthy and strong and practice

volley ball with my grandkids.

 

But I have noticed limitations

I did not have years ago.

My dad used to say…

 “When you are young you can work harder

but as you get older you must work smarter.”

I am so glad to have that advice.

 But as I get older I find some things I forget

and that makes it harder to work smarter.

If you have parents or grandparents that

are in their 90’s and have sharp minds

and can take care of themselves…

You better make sure you thank
 God every day for that blessing.

So often our parents and grandparents

need the help of the children.

When these needs arise it

can make life challenging.

When our time and recourse are

needed it can become a burden.

Hopefully none us would say that but it is true.

I know many who live out of town and left their

homes to take care of parents and grandparents.

A lot of us as we get older, deny the need for

help and make it hard for the children and

grandchildren to give the care that is needed.

     

For many taking care of parents and

grandparents will become a burden.

A burden that will not only be hard to take care of…

 But the hardship on the grandparent or parent

who has been a care giver and now needs help.

It is not easy letting parents control their

lives to the best of their ability when

we think differently than they do.

It is not easy to give up your freedom

willingly as parents and grandparents have

their freedom taken away from them.

The responsibility is not only physical

and financial, it is highly emotional.

For all these reasons and more

God addresses this issue in 1 Timothy 5.

God is pleased when we give our parents and

grandparents the love and care they need.

Caring for parents and grand-

parents is part of our religion…

But if a widow has children or grandchildren,

 these should learn first of all to put their religion

into practice by caring for their own family and

so repaying their parents and grandparents,

for this is pleasing to God.

One of the reasons we care for them is to

show gratitude for their care in raising us.

God looks at this responsibility so seriously

that if we do not provide for our relatives

(this reaches far beyond parents and grandparents)

especially for the immediate family…

“We have denied the faith”

The one who does not consider family

the first ministry, is worse than an unbeliever.

 

WOW… that is heavy.

It sure looks like God is saying “Family First”.

Families are to take care of themselves.

It happens some family members need help.

Our first ministry is to family.

If a person desires to be in ministry as an

elder he must first have his family in order.

It seems to be clear if there are needs in the family…

 Those in the family should serve those needs first

before the ministries in the church and in the world.

In all the ministry I have done in the church

and around the world…

 My greatest joy came from serving my family.

There have been times I was unable to serve

others, even work for a living, to take care of family…

And I would not trade the joy and

memories of those times for anything.

Make family first.

Pray for all your family members regularly.

Look for ways to encourage and serve them.

Help others in the family who are main care givers.

Look at your own life…

 Do what you can so you will not

become a burden to others.

 

Remember…

“First of all to put Their (your) religion into practice

by caring for their (your) own family”

  

Scripture Reading

1 Timothy 5:3-8 NIV

3 Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. 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. 6 But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. 7 Give the people these instructions, too, so that no one may be open to blame. 8 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.