Dear Reader,
Welcome to the concluding part of this edition. I believe you now know that as a woman, you are called a helpmeet and given the responsibility to manage the finances of the home with trust as the foundation. This week, we will examine The Role of the Man in Providing for His Household.
By God’s arrangement, the husband is to provide for his family. He is the one who must ensure there is food for members of his family. He must ensure his family members are well taken care of, especially his immediate family members. The man must labour with his hands, especially as a married man; he cannot afford to be lazy. Your hands must be working hands because there is dignity in labour. The Word says: Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase (Proverbs 13:11).
Therefore, it is unfair for the man to shift the whole responsibility of handling family finances to the woman. He may assign a portion of it to her but should not abandon his responsibility and then blame her for ineffective management of the finances. However, the woman should be hard-working to assist the man in any way possible.
A man who is too slothful to find gainful employment should not be caught eating. The Word says: … this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10).God is serious about the need for men to rise up to their God-given roles, even in this day and age where women also work to help make ends meet.
Bishop T.D. Jakes said in one of his teachings, ‘The first thing God gave the man was not a wife but a job, a vision and an assignment’. Right from creation, when God gave Adam a wife, the man was the head of the home. This has also placed upon him the responsibility of providing for his household. The Word says: But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel (I Timothy 5:8).
Therefore, as the man, you must be working towards a goal. You should have some gainful employment. The only time we are permitted to stop working is when we don’t want to eat anymore, and that is either when we are asleep or dead. But as long as you are awake and alive, work must continue.
The man is given the responsibility to cater for his wife and children. If he fails in this duty, he is a failure! It is a curse if the wife takes up this responsibility of the man permanently in the home. For a couple to live a shame-free life, the man must understand this truth and rise to the occasion. When the money does come in, if the man selfishly spends all the money on new clothes for himself, etc., he cannot win his wife’s trust. Therefore, the man must labour with his hands and expect God to bring the increase. If he does not work, no increase can come his way.
However, the grace to carry out your responsibility in your home can only be given by God. Therefore, you need the help of God. If you are not born-again, please say this prayer of faith: Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner, and I cannot help myself. Forgive me of my sins and cleanse me with Your Precious Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan to serve the Living God. From today, Lord Jesus, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You Jesus for saving me! Now, I am Born-again.
Congratulations! You are now born again and a child of God. He loves you and will never leave or forsake you. With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace, in Jesus’ name! Please write or call to share your testimonies with me through oyedepofaitha@gmail.com OR 08141320204 and 07026385437.
For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian Bookstores: Building a Successful Family, Success in Marriage (Co-Authored with Bishop David Oyedepo), Raising Godly Children, Understanding Motherhood and The Wisdom that Works (Bishop David Oyedepo).
