Who is Your Provider?

I've got some news for women; news that may shock and possibly even offend some of you, and here it is...YOUR HUSBAND IS NOT YOUR PROVIDER. Thankfully, this is not Carissa's news, it's the word of the Lord. Psalms 23:1 says it best; "THE LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack". THE Lord is the one who feeds me, guides me, and shields me.

The husband's "job" to take care of his wife and children is a self-righteous label that has been generationally force fed; and for some reason society continues to believe it. Worse yet, it's been adapted as an unwritten rule that doesn't even exist. Nowhere in the Bible will you find that the man/husband is responsible for "working a job" for the sake of his family's financial needs. There is only one verse that comes remotely close; 1 Timothy 5 verse 8 says "But 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." Unfortunately, way too many believers (including pastors) pluck out this one verse and apply it out of context. This entire chapter is NOT about husbands providing for their wives and children; it's about those who are responsible for caring for widows. Granted, verse 16 refers to literal man or woman, not mankind, but it's still all about tending to widows.

Ladies, ask yourself this question, "Why does my husband have a job?" Nine times out of ten your answer will be, "to put food on the table, to put a roof over our heads, and to pay our bills" (in your own words of course). Obviously the Lord can provide through your husband, but He doesn't need your husband in order to provide for you. Ask yourselves another question, "Who provided for me when I was single? The answer is, "the Lord did". Do you think He stopped when you got married? No, He is still your provider. The Lord is everyone's provider, even non believers. Side Note: Regardless of how hard we think we work, we will never get what we have because we worked hard; without the mercy of God on us, we would have nothing. In fact, we wouldn't be alive to work in the first place.

In the beginning, the first 5 days of God speaking creation into existence to be exact, the Lord created ALL provision; food, clothing, and shelter. It wasn't until day six that He created Adam and Eve. They both had everything they needed and it was the Lord who provided it; all they had to do was TAKE IT! Eve didn't need Adam to provide anything for her. What Adam failed to give her was a spiritual covering; protection from Satan! Hence, Eve falling prey to the serpent in the garden.

There are truths upon truths in God's written word that show the magnitude of how the Lord provides for everything we could need; not just food, clothing, and shelter, but rest, protection, peace, restoration, guidance, and more. But I encourage my brothers and sisters in Christ to seek the Lord on it.

Philippians 4:19 AMP
And my God (not your husband) will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 

Psalms 23:2-3
He (not your husband) makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul..." 

Isaiah 30:21
Your ears shall hear a word (not your husband) behind you saying, "This is the way, walk in it..."

Psalms 119:105
Your word (not your husband) is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

Psalms 23:4
Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for you (not your husband) are with me.

Isaiah 43:2
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. they will not sweep over you. When you walk through fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. (pretty sure your husband can't do this)

Psalms 23:5
You (not your husband) prepare a table before me, in the presence of my enemies...

Matthew 6:33
But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (not your husband), and all these things shall be added unto you. (These things are "added", not earned)

Your husbands' sole responsibility is to lead you to Jesus; to the one who truly leads you, to the one who provides for you AND your husband, and to the one who should be leading your husband to begin with. If you're putting pressure on your husband to "find work" because you're behind on the bills or trying to get out of debt; remember it's not his responsibility to take care of those things; nor is it yours. Let God have it, don't try to take it back, trust HIM, and watch HIM work!

RESOURCES

A Real Man Isn't Defined by His Bacon 

It's Not about the Work, It's about His Will