Dear Father,

I grew up learning that the scripture on provision was directed only to men. It says, “But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith and is worse than an infidel.” Yet, in quoting this scripture, we often put man in place of anyone.

For me, this highlights much more than gender inclusivity. I see a broader perspective of responsibility that we often neglect; one not limited to the provision of basic needs, but one with the potential to significantly reduce inequality. What would be the case if, for instance, every family had a well-to-do person, and every well-to-do person embraced the culture of providing for their household? If every wealthy person extended that provision to both their immediate and extended family, and every extremely wealthy person went further to support even those unrelated?

We have seen, in times past, cases where wealthy individuals are envied, even harmed by members of their own families, despite having met their needs. Without justifying such behavior, and while it is part of human nature, I believe envy over wealth often intensifies when sharing is not a culture. Wealth then becomes something foreign, and the wealthy are seen as gods, while others strive to occupy that position--even unlawfully.

Though no school of thought is without its pros and cons, I still insist that provision is a shared responsibility, and it begins in our homes.

Translations;
Slide 1: English
Slide 2: French
Slide 3: Bengali
Slide 4: Hindu
Slide 5: Urdu

#LettertoGod
#provision
#wealth
#gender
#family