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- 243A Biblical Worldview of Providing for Family1174449976In Part 5 of our Biblical Worldview of Money and Wealth series, we tackle a challenging but vital question: how do you faithfully provide for family without enabling harmful behavior? Drawing from passages like 1 Timothy 5:8 and James 2:14–16, this episode explores the biblical responsibility to care for those in our household—especially those who are elderly, ill, or truly unable to provide for themselves. Scripture makes it clear that genuine faith requires tangible action and compassionate provision. At the same time, we examine the wisdom of Proverbs and Paul’s teaching on work, reminding listeners that consistent financial rescue can sometimes enable laziness rather than promote growth. This episode offers balanced, biblical guidance to help you navigate compassion with discernment—honoring God as you protect, provide for, and wisely support your family.[00:00] Biblical Compassion vs. Enabling Destructive Behavior 00:00 | Shawn: When a family member needs financial help how do you know if you’re showing Biblical compassion or enabling destructive behavior00:07 | Shawn: Many Christians struggle with this tension wanting to honor God by caring for family while also recognizing that sometimes the most loving thing is to let consequences do their work00:18 | Shawn: Today we’ll explore the Biblical wisdom that helps you navigate these difficult decisions00:23 | Shawn: Let’s get some perspective [00:32] Biblical Definition of Family and Financial Responsibility 00:32 | Shawn: Welcome to Christian Financial Perspectives00:35 | Shawn: My name is Shawn Peters00:36 | Shawn: This is Bob Barber00:37 | Shawn: And today we’re covering the Biblical way to provide for family and the Bible calls on us as Christians to provide financially for our families since most people no longer grow their own food make their own clothing or build their own homes from trees and bricks00:58 | Shawn: When we talk about this we use our financial means today to buy essentials like food water clothing and shelter as well as other needs and wants01:08 | Bob: Yeah01:08 | Shawn: And Bob thank you for putting this together01:11 | Shawn: I didn’t contribute much really to this particular script01:14 | Shawn: That’s01:14 | Bob: okay01:15 | Shawn: So if you like this then Bob wrote it01:17 | Shawn: If you01:17 | Bob: – Don’t like it01:18 | Shawn: sorry if you if you don’t like it Bob wrote01:20 | Bob: it01:20 | Bob: Yeah exactly01:20 | Bob: If01:20 | Shawn: you do like it I helped I helped more than Implied01:24 | Shawn: So why don’t you start us off with a definition of family according to Biblical standards01:29 | Bob: Well Shawn I think you added that part in there so I want you to do that01:33 | Shawn: Oh okay01:34 | Bob: All right01:34 | Shawn: I trying to throw01:35 | Bob: throw throw you know you’re gonna you’re gonna try to throw me off01:37 | Bob: I’m gonna01:37 | Shawn: say01:37 | Bob: it’s mom and a dad and kids and you know the def- the Biblical definition of family-01:43 | Shawn: Well01:43 | Bob: it’s01:43 | Shawn: okay is01:44 | Bob: different01:44 | Shawn: in01:44 | Bob: the secular worldview01:45 | Shawn: It’s01:45 | Shawn: but we’re gonna start- Okay with scripture01:46 | Shawn: All01:46 | Shawn: makes it01:47 | Bob: easy01:48 | Shawn: But Galatians 6:10 “Therefore as we have the opportunity let us do good to all people especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” So those in Christ are considered family01:58 | Bob: That’s right01:59 | Bob: Yep01:59 | Shawn: And God is our Father02:00 | Bob: Yep02:01 | Bob: Yep02:02 | Bob: Exactly02:03 | Bob: you know you’re you’re not only my son-in-law but you’re e- even if you weren’t my son-in-law you’d be considered my brother through Jesus02:13 | Bob: Exactly02:14 | Bob: ‘Cause ’cause that that’s our common02:15 | Bob: We have that commonality02:17 | Shawn: Through through Christ we’ve been adopted into the same family02:20 | Bob: That’s that’s right02:21 | Bob: And you know doing good for others is an investment in them that you hope’s gonna pay off for now-02:27 | Shawn: Yeah02:27 | Bob: and in eternity and I think Christians need to strive to do good for all people though02:33 | Shawn: Yeah02:34 | Bob: and with a priority o- on helping fellow believers who are unable to help themselves02:40 | Shawn: Yeah02:40 | Bob: And you notice I said that who are unable to help themselves02:43 | Shawn: Right02:43 | Bob: Because we’re02:44 | Bob: This one thing as I was writing this Shawn that kept hitting me over and over was we’re talking about providing but we don’t wanna enable bad behavior02:53 | Shawn: Yeah02:53 | Bob: So- There’s a big02:54 | Shawn: difference between and honestly it seems like the recent02:59 | Shawn: Well as of this recording it was still somewhat recent but the whole thing in in the government and SNAP benefits and yet you see tons of people that has nothing to do with them being on hard times or not being able to work03:12 | Shawn: They just don’t want to03:13 | Bob: Yeah03:14 | Shawn: and that I think a government example but in in this case as as Christians that is kind of the same distinction is is it’s it’s helping people who can’t help themselves for whatever the reason may be may be physical disability may be mental issue- may be combination or may be just a temporary thing that just some bad things03:36 | Shawn: Unfortunately they’re going through a valley but people who just don’t want to do anything and they have the capacity to do it well that’s just laziness03:44 | Bob: Well we’re and we’re gonna- we’re gonna really get into that scripture and th- this next scripture that we’re gonna share is from 1 Timothy 5:8 which is where the basis of this started-03:54 | Shawn: Yeah03:54 | Bob: you know- Yeah03:54 | Bob: when when when I was developing this03:56 | Shawn: – So family members in your own03:58 | Bob: household is- R- right is03:59 | Shawn: what03:59 | Bob: we’re this04:00 | Bob: Exactly04:00 | Bob: That that that’s the key here you know04:02 | Bob: It says “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.” Man that’s pretty strong words Shawn04:16 | Bob: It’s04:16 | Shawn: very strong words04:17 | Bob: You think about it04:18 | Bob: Yeah04:18 | Bob: So so it’s a Christian’s obligation and duty to care for support and protect family members especially in their own household04:27 | Shawn: Yeah04:27 | Bob: I mean this is th- this is kinda like Proverbs but it’s over in04:30 | Shawn: Well it makes me think of the other scripture04:32 | Shawn: Maybe you remember the specific reference but when it talks about how you know what a good father when his son w- asks for a fish doesn’t give him a rock or give him a snake-04:44 | Bob: Yeah04:44 | Shawn: you know k- kind of a thing04:45 | Shawn: Yeah04:45 | Shawn: And04:45 | Bob: it’s04:45 | Shawn: like and then it’s like how much how much more to it good is your Father in heaven in providing for you04:51 | Shawn: It kind of makes me think of that too like well yeah you need to provide for your family and if they have needs and you’re able why would you not provide for04:59 | Bob: them04:59 | Bob: A- and this scripture’s you know really saying hey this this is not just about talk05:03 | Bob: I mean this requires tangible action-05:06 | Shawn: Yeah05:06 | Bob: with family provision as a primary goal here and a God-given responsibility-05:13 | Shawn: Yeah05:13 | Bob: and that the failure to provide for family is viewed as a serious moral obligation effectively denying the Christian faith by acting in a manner worse than an unbeliever if you don’t05:25 | Bob: Yeah05:26 | Bob: Wow05:26 | Shawn: Very- When05:27 | Bob: I was when I was just thinking about this was like man this is05:30 | Bob: Like you know you always say Proverbs really speaks straight to the point05:33 | Shawn: Yeah05:33 | Bob: This one really speaks straight to the point05:36 | Shawn: Yeah05:36 | Shawn: Yeah it’s a very serious moral obligation and failure to do so is not okay [05:43] Faith and Deeds: Practical Application of Biblical Teachings 05:43 | Shawn: I mean there’s05:44 | Bob: Yeah05:44 | Shawn: no way around05:44 | Bob: that05:45 | Bob: and so this kind of takes us into the next area that the Lord was laying on me as I was writing this is about faith and deeds05:51 | Shawn: Mm-hmm05:51 | Bob: And you know where James 2:14-16 he talks about faith and works05:56 | Shawn: Sure05:57 | Bob: I’ll I’ll go and05:57 | Shawn: read that05:58 | Shawn: James 2:14-16 says-What good is it my brothers and sisters if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds06:06 | Shawn: Can such faith save them06:08 | Shawn: Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food06:11 | Shawn: If one of you says to them “Go in peace keep warm and well-fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs what good is it06:19 | Shawn: In the same way faith by itself is not accompanied06:22 | Shawn: if it is not accompanied by action is dead06:25 | Bob: I saw 3 points that kind of came out of this scripture06:27 | Shawn: Mm-hmm06:28 | Bob: You know the it James is really he’s questioning the value of faith if it doesn’t provide visible-06:34 | Shawn: Yeah06:34 | Bob: good works06:35 | Shawn: Yeah06:36 | Bob: and he’s also that a verbal profession of faith without practical loving action is worthless06:42 | Shawn: Or or dead- You06:44 | Bob: in06:44 | Bob: Yeah06:45 | Bob: Yeah06:46 | Bob: And that genuine saving faith compels believers to meet the physical and spiritual needs of others who are incapable of meeting their own needs06:54 | Bob: And again comes back to that those that are incapable-06:57 | Shawn: Yeah06:57 | Bob: of meeting their own needs06:58 | Bob: And we’re gonna we’re gonna kind of talk about who are those incapable-07:02 | Shawn: Yeah07:02 | Bob: of meeting their own needs07:03 | Bob: ‘Cause there are there’s a group of people that are incapable-07:07 | Shawn: Sure of07:07 | Bob: meeting their needs and that’s who we’re called to help07:10 | Shawn: Yeah07:10 | Bob: Yeah [07:11] Faith and Actions: The Analogy of the Fruit Tree 07:11 | Shawn: Yeah07:11 | Shawn: That’s that’s James it always That’s that’s James it always uh really sticks out to me on that distinction of the deeds are not what save you for example07:22 | Bob: Right07:22 | Shawn: it’s it’s simply that that outward expression of the faith that you have07:30 | Bob: Right07:30 | Shawn: Because if your faith is is real it’s like well you can’t help07:34 | Shawn: I think the analogy of the t- of the tree07:36 | Shawn: Yeah07:37 | Shawn: It’s like well if it’s a healthy fruit tree it’s gonna produce fruit07:40 | Bob: Fruit right07:41 | Shawn: ‘Cause that’s just the nature of the tree07:43 | Shawn: That’s what it does07:43 | Bob: Yeah07:44 | Shawn: And so the same should be like with with our faith07:46 | Shawn: It’s like it you know you tell somebody “Oh yeah I’ll pray for you,” when you literally could like get them food right now ’cause they need help07:54 | Shawn: Like it’s like okay07:56 | Shawn: Yeah07:56 | Shawn: Don’t just give them the platitude of like “Oh yeah I hope God provides.” Well maybe God put them in your path08:02 | Bob: right now-08:02 | Shawn: May-08:02 | Bob: maybe you need to go buy08:03 | Shawn: them a08:03 | Bob: meal08:03 | Shawn: help08:03 | Shawn: Yeah08:03 | Bob: May- and or or or help them out08:05 | Bob: Exactly [08:06] Biblical Teachings on Laziness and Responsibility 08:06 | Bob: Now this is where this next section is where I saw the caution- Yeah of financial provisioning for enabling laziness08:16 | Shawn: Yeah08:17 | Bob: And of course now comes Proverbs right08:19 | Shawn: Yeah08:19 | Bob: yeah08:19 | Shawn: Because if weren’t gonna get through this episode-08:21 | Bob: Yeah08:21 | Shawn: at least08:21 | Bob: one08:22 | Shawn: Proverbs08:22 | Bob: reference08:22 | Shawn: right08:22 | Shawn: Not08:22 | Bob: not without Proverbs when it comes to about enabling because Proverbs is pretty strong on this08:27 | Shawn: Yeah08:28 | Bob: mm-hmm08:28 | Bob: it starts off with Proverbs 10:3-508:31 | Shawn: Oh go ahead08:32 | Shawn: “The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry but he thwarts the craving of the wicked08:37 | Shawn: Lazy hands make for poverty but diligent hands bring wealth08:41 | Shawn: He who gathers crops in s mer is a prudent son but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.”08:48 | Bob: And-08:48 | Shawn: And then you have another Proverbs here08:49 | Bob: Yeah I do08:50 | Shawn: Proverbs 19:15-1808:52 | Shawn: “Laziness brings on deep sleep and the shiftless go hungry08:56 | Shawn: Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life but whoever shows contempt for their ways will die09:01 | Shawn: Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord and He will reward them for what they have done09:06 | Shawn: Discipline your children for in that there is hope09:09 | Shawn: Do not be a willing party to their death.”09:11 | Bob: Hmm09:12 | Bob: So the consequences of laziness according to these scriptures are poverty and hunger09:18 | Bob: and09:18 | Shawn: –09:19 | Bob: you know it says right- can see09:21 | Shawn: that again especially in the long run09:22 | Shawn: Yeah09:23 | Bob: And it09:23 | Shawn: talks about disciplining your your children09:25 | Shawn: It’s like well yeah because you wanna make sure that when they’re old enough that they are on their own you wanna make sure that they don’t continue lazy habits and therefore they can’t take care of themselves09:36 | Shawn: And then what about when you’re no longer on this earth09:39 | Shawn: You know it’s kind of the same it’s09:40 | Shawn: it makes total sense that you know you wanna instill these good principles in them before it’s too late09:47 | Bob: You know the the emphasis on on Proverbs 19:15 were reading it is that laziness can cast you into deep sleep09:54 | Bob: Yeah09:54 | Bob: I mean that’s what it says and the idle person is gonna suffer hunger09:57 | Bob: And over in Proverbs 10:4 a slack hand causes poverty10:01 | Bob: Mm10:01 | Bob: I mean10:02 | Shawn: it’s10:02 | Bob: basically saying if you’re lazy these things can happen to you10:06 | Bob: the Book of Proverbs also describes a lazy person as a sluggard10:11 | Bob: And we you know- consider the ant you know10:13 | Shawn: Yeah10:14 | Bob: as one who sleeps neglects task and makes ridiculous excuses about not working and allows their home to fall into disrepair10:24 | Shawn: Yeah10:25 | Bob: Proverbs 6:6-8 that’s the one about the ant10:28 | Shawn: Yep10:28 | Bob: and it consider her ways and be wise10:32 | Bob: and it highlights initiative that the ant you know saves during summer Right and for the winter-10:39 | Shawn: That’s10:39 | Bob: right that’s coming10:40 | Bob: And beyond physical poverty laziness is viewed as a lack of wisdom and a sinful misuse of time and this is over in Ecclesiastes 10:18 and Proverbs 20 :1310:54 | Bob: And-10:54 | Shawn: Yeah I wish were able to find more scriptural references for these different-10:57 | Bob: Different ones10:58 | Shawn: parts10:58 | Bob: and points10:59 | Bob: Yeah10:59 | Shawn: And we on- we only have one to two for each one11:01 | Bob: and and there it is11:03 | Bob: Paul addressing addresses this in the New Testament- Mm-hmm over Thessalonians11:07 | Shawn: 2 Thessalonians 3:1011:09 | Bob: Yeah11:09 | Bob: yeah11:09 | Bob: emphasizes that providing for one’s own household is essential to the faith and anyone that’s not willing to work they should not eat11:16 | Shawn: Mm11:17 | Bob: So the it11:18 | Bob: When I looked at this I was like man these are pretty strong there about enabling bad behavior11:27 | Shawn: Yeah11:27 | Bob: Now out- the Biblical worldview of providing for your family if they’re incapable of providing for themselves is a Christian obligation [11:39] Compassion and Boundaries in Supporting Others 11:39 | Bob: And I wrote I think I started thinking about what family members could be incapable of providing-11:45 | Shawn: Mm-hmm11:45 | Bob: for themselves and elderly- Yeah because they just physically can’t get out- Yeah11:51 | Bob: do work anymore11:53 | Bob: the physically handicapped or those who have a mental illness which is often one of the worst illnessesBecause you can’t see it- a mental illness12:03 | Bob: And you know from my12:05 | Shawn: studies- You12:05 | Bob: you can12:05 | Shawn: always see symptoms of it12:08 | Bob: Yeah12:08 | Shawn: And so it’s it’s harder than you know someone who physically can’t walk-12:12 | Bob: Right12:12 | Shawn: or someone who is like you said elderly12:15 | Shawn: it’s12:15 | Shawn: You can kind of tell like well yeah their muscle’s atrophied and they just they can’t move around on their own12:20 | Shawn: But then the mental part like they could look totally healthy from an outside12:24 | Bob: perspective12:25 | Bob: and I’ve learned from actually through investing-12:29 | Shawn: Mm-hmm12:29 | Bob: talking about how investing companies to you know try to help schizophreni a s an example12:35 | Shawn: Yeah12:36 | Bob: yeah12:36 | Bob: or bipolar12:37 | Bob: because from the studies that I’ve done about this is the majority of the homeless on the streets they have a mental illness12:45 | Bob: Yeah12:46 | Bob: And I don’t12:46 | Shawn: They’re not actually homeless because they12:48 | Shawn: they literally12:48 | Bob: just12:49 | Shawn: can’t find a place or or don’t have a place to be12:52 | Bob: Yeah12:52 | Shawn: I know I remember you12:53 | Shawn: we might have even talked about this in a episode at some point in in the series but you you had a someone from high school I think or whatever that13:01 | Bob: that- we did13:02 | Shawn: gotten a13:02 | Bob: and- Yeah13:02 | Shawn: it was13:02 | Bob: a it was a- One one of my best friends13:04 | Bob: of our our13:05 | Bob: He was a quarterback13:05 | Bob: He went to the University of Texas and then we later found him and he developed schizophreni a s well13:11 | Bob: Yeah13:11 | Bob: He was coach at a high school-13:13 | Shawn: Yeah13:14 | Bob: team and really doing well13:15 | Bob: Well I13:15 | Shawn: remember the story you had shared13:16 | Shawn: It was something about the13:18 | Shawn: I don’t know if it was from you and others or whatever but there was a home provided after this had happened with with the schizophrenia and it was short time later that it was like he was gone and he’d destroyed the house13:29 | Shawn: And it you know it was just again it it wasn’t a physical need of oh he just doesn’t have a home but it was actually the mental illness13:38 | Bob: was- Right actually13:39 | Shawn: the issue13:39 | Bob: Right13:40 | Bob: Yeah13:40 | Bob: So- Yeah13:40 | Bob: he thought there were gremlins in the walls13:42 | Bob: Yeah13:43 | Shawn: So13:43 | Bob: you know and he’s a great guy13:46 | Bob: When I still see him he’s still alive today13:48 | Bob: when I go see him he he yells out my name from across the street you know and-13:52 | Shawn: Yeah13:52 | Bob: he’ll come give you a hug13:53 | Bob: But you can’t you can’t get too close13:56 | Bob: And I’ve seen just how awful mental illness is and I’m careful14:01 | Bob: I don’t I don’t judge homeless people anymore14:04 | Shawn: Yeah14:04 | Bob: I remember my younger days it’s like “Oh go get a job.” Yeah14:07 | Bob: But I don’t do that anymore14:09 | Bob: Yeah14:09 | Bob: and we need to have compassion for them14:12 | Bob: but on the flip side family members who just refuse to work-14:17 | Shawn: Yeah14:17 | Bob: when they’re perfectly capable of working this is just enabling bad behavior and we need to14:23 | Shawn: allow-14:24 | Bob: laziness14:24 | Bob: those consequences of not working-14:27 | Shawn: Yeah14:27 | Bob: and bad behavior14:28 | Bob: We need to l- allow what’s gonna happen is what’s gonna happen14:32 | Bob: Yeah14:32 | Shawn: ‘Cause14:32 | Bob: I feel like we’re gonna get in the way of God if we don’t14:35 | Bob: Right14:35 | Bob: Let God work in their lives14:37 | Shawn: Yeah yeah14:39 | Shawn: Yeah because you know I I know we’ve seen it here at Christian Financial Advisors® when we have like older clients that have a kid or and sometimes kids and because you know it’s like mom is retired and Dad’s already passed away and-14:55 | Bob: Mm-hmm14:55 | Shawn: oh she has money14:56 | Shawn: She has retirement money and she’s very generous14:58 | Shawn: But then there are you know the son or daughter or both whatever and oh they’re living on Mom’s property and oh they need money for you know getting this thing or they need money for that15:08 | Shawn: Like well hold on15:09 | Shawn: Like they’re working15:11 | Shawn: Mom only has so much left15:13 | Bob: Mm-hmm15:13 | Shawn: That’s all she has15:14 | Shawn: Right15:14 | Bob: She can’t15:14 | Shawn: work anymore15:16 | Shawn: And then they’re they’re taking advantage of instead of actually working and saving up for whatever it is that they supposedly need which they don’t need they take advantage of of of Mom15:25 | Shawn: In that case it’s a great example of no Mom like you need to say no15:28 | Bob: Right15:29 | Shawn: Because you’re not helping them15:30 | Shawn: That’s right15:30 | Shawn: You’re actually hurting them and yourself15:32 | Bob: That’s right [15:33] Exploring Biblical Worldview on Financial Provision 15:33 | Bob: Yeah15:34 | Bob: So- So there’s two sides of this-15:36 | Shawn: Yeah15:36 | Bob: in looking at this from Biblical worldview and you never wanna take scripture out of context by just say- taking one scripture15:43 | Shawn: Right15:43 | Bob: You gotta look at many scriptures15:45 | Bob: So this is why wanna end up today on on 4 or 5 scriptures that-15:50 | Shawn: Yeah15:50 | Bob: I think15:51 | Bob: And you’re gonna notice that they’re gonna go kinda back and forth because we we need to put compassion in there15:57 | Bob: Right15:57 | Bob: Right15:58 | Bob: But we also need to put wisdom- Yeah16:00 | Bob: when it’s providing for family16:02 | Shawn: members16:02 | Shawn: We’re we’re gonna go through these and we’re gonna trust that the Holy Spirit will will guide whoever is- watching or listening to this and we just we know that God’s Word never returns back void16:11 | Shawn: And so-16:11 | Bob: So16:11 | Shawn: you16:12 | Bob: you you take one and I’ll take one16:13 | Shawn: Sounds good16:13 | Bob: Okay [16:14] ️ Scriptural Insights on Compassion, Wisdom, and Provision 16:14 | Shawn: 1 Peter 3:8: “Finally all of you be like-minded be sympathetic love one another be compassionate and h ble.”16:21 | Bob: Proverbs 17:16: “Of what use is money in the hand of a fool since he has no intention of acquiring wisdom?”16:31 | Shawn: Mm-hmm16:32 | Shawn: Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind and compassionate to one another forgiving each other just as in just as in Christ God forgave you.”16:42 | Bob: Proverbs 14:23: “All hard work brings a p- a profit but mere talk leads only to poverty.”16:50 | Shawn: Mm-hmm16:50 | Shawn: Colossians 3:12: “Therefore as God’s chosen people holy and dearly loved clothe yourselves with compassion kindness h ility gentleness and patience.”17:00 | Bob: And the last one for today is Proverbs 3:27: “Do not withhold good from those whom it is due when it is in your power to act”-17:08 | Shawn: Mm-hmm17:09 | Bob: when you can do something about it17:11 | Bob: The conclusion of all this is a Biblical worldview of financial providing for your family is very important especially when scripture says anyone who does not provide for his own is worse than an unbeliever and is denying the faith17:24 | Shawn: And especially for those in his own household17:27 | Bob: Yeah in their own household17:28 | Shawn: Yeah [17:29] Conclusion and Next Steps in Biblical Financial Teachings 17:29 | Bob: So you know I know as a as a dad I’m also a grandfather I really take financially providing for my family as one of my top priorities17:38 | Bob: And I hope this lesson has spurred you to do the same17:42 | Shawn: And next time we’re gonna be covering Biblical worldview of debt17:45 | Bob: Yeah17:46 | Shawn: So we hope you enjoyed this and thank you for joining us and God bless17:51 | Bob: Thank you for watching17:52 | Bob: If you wanna see more videos just like this make sure to subscribe turn on notifications and like this video17:58 | Bob: If you have questions you can visit our website call text us or comment below18:03 | Bob: See you next timehttps://christianfinancialadvisors.com/wp-content/uploads/Episode_243.en_US.txt
