Is husband condemned? 1 Timothy 5:8

[MainBrain]

Hypothetically speaking, if a husband and father has a bad work history and has not been able to find a job in years is he condemned according to 1 Timothy 5:8?

• Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.*

Say he has tried to find work but could not. Or, say, he has some sort of mental or emotional issue that he is trying to come to terms with, how does he work with those issues and still not be guilty of not providing for his family? On the other hand, he has taken care of the household during this time.

 

[Xantippe]

Hypothetically speaking, if a husband and father has a bad work history and has not been able to find a job in years is he condemned according to 1 Timothy 5:8?
Say he has tried to find work but could not. Or, say, he has some sort of mental or emotional issue that he is trying to come to terms with, how does he work with those issues and still not be guilty of not providing for his family? On the other hand, he has taken care of the household during this time.

I think that verse is primarily addressed to people who have financial means but choose not to care for their elderly relatives or members of their household–have a look at the context.

There’s a verse elsewhere that says, he who does not work, neither shall he eat, which seems more relevant. See 2 Thessalonians 3–the issue seems to have been able-bodied people who were freeloading off the Christian community.

However, if you are working at home doing home stuff, that is work. But if your family is in dire need, it would be important to take whatever work you can, regardless of whether it is in your field or beneath your dignity. As I learned as a child from my dad, who never had a paycheck job until I was a 7th grader, there aren’t always jobs, but there’s always work. If you can’t find a job, post flyers and walk dogs or something like that.

 

[Xantippe]

Also, there’s no duty to perform the physically impossible.

A thing can only be a duty if it’s possible.

 

[agnes_therese]

Hypothetically speaking, if a husband and father has a bad work history and has not been able to find a job in years is he condemned according to 1 Timothy 5:8?
Say he has tried to find work but could not. Or, say, he has some sort of mental or emotional issue that he is trying to come to terms with, how does he work with those issues and still not be guilty of not providing for his family? On the other hand, he has taken care of the household during this time.

How could it be a sin to be unable to find work if he’s really tried? I don’t understand your thought process on that.

 

[JRKH]

There is a big difference between “does not” and “cannot”…

Just a thought

Peace
James

 

[EasterJoy]

Obviously not. Consider the parable of the vineyard workers, in which the last were first. What was the reason that the last had for not working?

“Going out about five o’clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard’…” Matt. 20:6-7

Do what you can, and do not fear you will be condemned for failing to do what you couldn’t do. God reads hearts and God is love, so God always judges justly and with compassion.