Vengeance, Swift Booty, and Your Household
August 22, 2018·Jarrod Kula
Typically, in these emails, the goal is to share a perspective on the chapters we’re reading together in our Pause Bible Reading Plan. However, today, I ran into some crazy chapters: first, singing along with a choir director about David invoking vengeance upon his enemies —everyone sing together now! — “Let his days be few…and his wife a widow” (Ps 109:8, 9, NASB). Shortly thereafter, I turned to Isaiah 8, and the first verse jumped off the page with the Lord asking the prophet to write on a tablet in ordinary letters: “…swift is the booty, speedy is the prey” (Isaiah 8:1, NASB). Ever have one of those days where you would actually prefer a nice boring list from Leviticus? Given my lack of inspiration for vengeance and swift booty, I am going to leave those four chapters to our many other resident experts around here and, instead, share from 1 Timothy about an issue that I encounter often and care significantly about.
“But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he/she has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
– 1 Timothy 5:8 (NASB)
Before I go any further, I first want to commend all of you who are diligently following the Lord, serving others within the church and in our communities. In addition to all the demands of life, you go over and above in trying to faithfully serve the Lord and others. Your service and volunteerism multiply exponentially the reach and effectiveness of the church.
That being said, the above verse should serve as an ever-present reminder as to how we must balance the many roles we serve. As Executive Pastor here at the church, while I so deeply appreciate people who are serving the Lord passionately, I am also often profoundly saddened when I see that service come at the expense of themselves and their households. Earlier in 1 Timothy, it clearly defines a person’s house being in order as a prerequisite of leadership and service within the church. As such, it is certainly an ongoing discipline and priority that each of you provide for your household. This may include, but is not limited to, how you steward your finances; how you are caring for your spouse and/or children; how you are caring for yourself personally (physical/emotional/spiritual wellness); modeling sound values; and living a life of integrity and skill (Psalm 78:72).
While I could write pages on this topic, this is already a longer email than most will read, so I will simply leave you with this: Are you providing sufficiently for your household in every essential area? If not, why? If it’s attributable to trying to do too much, what can you stop doing tomorrow? Keep in mind that the thing you should stop doing may even be a “good” and seemingly “Christian” activity. However, if it’s taking away from your ability to provide for your household, I would urge you to prayerfully consider how you prioritize your time and energies lest you, despite your best intentions, inadvertently deny your faith!
Pastor Jarrod Kula
