Dave is a faithful Christian (by the standards of most “churches”).  He is faithful to his wife (by the standards of most
“brethren”).  He is a loving father (by the standards of most “parents”).  He is a dedicated employee (by the standards of most
employers).  

    Dave works for ABC Trucking Company (fictional to my knowledge).  He spends three weeks on the road and then gets
to come home for five days before he heads back out.  Dave provides well for his family financially.  He regularly clears over
$80,000 per year in income after his expenses.  His wife loves her new house.  The kitchen is fabulous.  The children have the
biggest swing set you ever did see.          

    Dave is a member of the ABC Street church of Christ (fictional to my knowledge).  Dave is able to attend services at least
twice per month (unless ABC Trucking Company is short on drivers and heavy on loads).  Though Dave gets lost in his driving
and often forgets to worship on the road, the elders of the ABC Street church of Christ have reminded him that he is doing the
right thing by providing for the material needs of his family.

    On occasion, Dave is able to come home and teach a class among his brethren.  This shows the brethren that he is studying
on the road and that he is not falling behind by not being at every service.  All Dave has to do is study the Bible and do “the
best he can” to have heaven be his eternal home according to the erring elders at the ABC Street church of Christ.

    Sadly, the above scenarios are far too common today.  Too many “brethren” have concluded that providing for one’s
family, which is necessary (I Timothy 5:8 and II Thessalonians 3:10), is an authorized excuse from duties to both God and the
family.  Brethren, we are not governed by the standard of churches, parents, or employers, but the Scriptures (Isaiah 8:20,
Matthew 4:4, John 12:48, and II Timothy 1:13; 3:16-17; cf. Ezra 10:5).  


    First, how is taking a job and using the excuse of providing for your family, forsaking all that you have to be a disciple of
Christ (Luke 14:25-33)?  Our Lord does not look kindly on excuses (Luke 9:57-62 and Luke 14:16-24).  Secondly, we are
commanded NOT TO FORSAKE THE ASSEMBLING of the saints (Hebrews 10:23-25).  You cannot be part of a body
you are never assembled with (I Corinthians 12:14-27).  You cannot support her.  The body is fitly joined together and
compacted by that which every joint supplies to the edifying of itself in love (Ephesians 4:16).  You cannot be part of the local
body of Christ when gone regularly anymore than you can cut off your arms and legs, only to assemble them back together
twice a month and still have a whole, working body (Romans 12:4-5).    Finally, and a lot more could be said, how can you
help protect (Acts 20:28-31), comfort (I Thessalonians 5:11), teach (Colossians 3:16), be taught by (Acts 20:7), worship with
(I Corinthians 11:23-33), etc. a local body of Christians you are never around?  Once a Christian fails the Lord, you can know
the family is next in line.


         So many marriages in our culture end because the physical and spiritual needs in a marriage are not met.  Two people
marry because of the need of physical satisfaction (I Corinthians 7:1-2 and Hebrews 13:4).  Did you know that husbands and
wives are commanded not to withhold their sexual responsibilities from each other?  Notice: “Let the husband render unto
the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.  The wife hath not power of her own body, but
the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.  Defraud ye not one the
other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together
again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency” (I Corinthians 7:3-5).  Dave, in our opening scenario, is sinning by
putting his wife in a way of temptation three weeks out of every month.  

    Furthermore, the husband and wife relationship is likened to the love and roles of Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:22-
32).  The husband cannot love or lead a wife he is never around.  The wife cannot fill her godly roles if she is working all of the
time (Titus 2:4-5).  The man cannot spiritually motivate and the woman cannot spiritually assist a relationship that is very much
part-time (I Peter 3:1-7).  The man or woman who is away from their mate so often, is no more faithful than a car that only
starts 15% of the time even if they provide a nice home and swing set.  Additionally, they fail as parents.


    How does Dave bring up his children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord with only five days a month with them
(Ephesians 6:4)?  The physical education instructor has more time with the kids (maybe the wife too) than daddy does.  A
father and mother are entrusted with children, a gift from God (Psalms 127:3-5), and expected by God to instruct them
(Proverbs 4:1-4).  This cannot happen with a mother and / or father who are never around.  Parenting is a full-time job.  
Notice: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).  A
child does not need his or her English teacher, babysitter, guidance counselor (a shame to parents that their children cannot talk
to them, but to a professional moron); they need their parents!  Timothy had a mother and grandmother (shame on his father)
who taught him well the Scriptures that were able to make him wise unto salvation (II Timothy 1:5; 3:15-17).  We need parents
today to follow that example.


    In working one’s way to hell they fail their Lord, spouses, children, brethren, and themselves.  Yet, these types will
arrogantly claim to be faithful Christians.  Consider the following: “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God
with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind…  Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as
it is fit in the Lord.  Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them…  The rod and reproof give wisdom:
but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame…    Let brotherly love continue” (Matthew 22:37, Colossians 3:
18-19, Proverbs 29:15, and Hebrews 13:1).
Volume VIII    ~    Issue XXVI   ~   March 23rd, 2008
Words of Truth Weekly - Online Edition
What must one do to be saved (Acts 2:37)?  Hear and believe the Gospel (Mark 16:15-16 & Romans 10:17), repent of their
sins (Acts 3:19), confess Christ (Acts 8:37), and be baptized (immersed) for the remission of your sins (Acts 2:38 and
Romans 6:1-6).  Upon your obedience to these requirements of the Lord He will add you to the church of Christ (Acts 2:41; 47
and I Corinthians 12:12-13; cf. Romans 16:16).  One must then remain faithful (Colossians 1:23 and Revelation 2:10).  There is
more to cover than is here.  Contact me today for a study: brianyeager@wordsoftruth.net
Edited by: Brian A. Yeager
People Who Will Work Their Way To Hell
By: Brian A. Yeager
You Cannot Be A Faithful Christian If You Are Gone All of the Time
You Cannot Be A Faithful Parent If You Are Gone All of the Time
You Cannot Be A Faithful Mate If You Are Gone All of the Time
Conclusion