"But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."
I Timothy 5:8 Are You a Leader? One of the opening questions I ask students when I begin a class on leadership is “Are you a leader?” Some will respond quickly with assurance that they often find themselves in leadership roles while others may stammer around, not quite sure how to answer. I follow up with another question. What is the one thing every leader must have? The answer to that question is simply followers. So...let’s go back to “Are you a leader?” Do you have followers? At that point the light comes on and everyone realizes that someone is following them. Usually, that someone is in their family. Invest Eternally In the MD5 manhood definition, the last point is to “Invest Eternally.” Investing in those closest to us is critical! Paul’s admonition to provide for our family in I Timothy is strong and convicting. Is Paul simply asking us to provide food, clothing and shelter? A study of scripture reveals that it is much more than that. We are to provide leadership in our homes that points all those around us to a secure eternal home. Does this admonition take priority in our lives? Leadership Begins in Our Homes I remember a conversation with my wife about my time away from home early in my career. My job required me to travel seasonally away from home several nights a week. My wife lovingly confronted me with the fact that our two-year-old son was really missing his dad. I boldly came back with “this is my job; this is what God has called me to do and you will just have to get used to it.” That did not go over very well! Thankfully, God convicted me of my arrogance and gently reminded me that providing for my family meant being there for them and developing the “followers” that were right in front of me. Men, we are called to be leaders who invest eternally, and it begins in our home.
Jeff Riddle MD5 Facilitator