5. Provider
Will the Lord send you and not provide for you? By the very fact that He is your master, then He is your provider. If He did not do this, He would not be righteous, and Psalm 145:17 would be a lie.
Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. When you enter a house, first say ‘Peace to this house.’ If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.
Luke 10:4-7
The master provides for you through the work he has given you. Note verse 7, ‘the worker deserves his wages.‘ The King James Version says, ‘the labourer is worthy of his hire.’ That is, the labourer is befitting of his wages. By saying this, the Lord emphasised the principle of work being the main source of His provision.
…the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.
Deuteronomy 15:10
You will eat the fruit of your labour;
Blessings and prosperity will be yours.
Psalm 128:2
He who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies lacks judgement.
Proverbs 12:11
For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule, “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”
2 Thessalonians 3:10
The truth is that as a Christian, you need to be a hard worker. There is no short cut to wealth, you and I have to work. Remember the fate of the servant who did not do what was expected of him:
His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! …. ‘Take that talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Matthew 25:26-30
Work is essential for provision, but I want you to see something else about how God provides.
Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?”
“Nothing,” they answered.
He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.
Luke 22:35-36
The Lord provides, yes, but His mode of provision may differ depending on your season. In the first instance, the Lord ensured that the apostles were fully catered for by others. In the second instance, he lets them know that this may not be their reality. They may have to sacrifice some things in order to be able to carry out their assignment. Both are instances of provision!
Let us look at another instance of provision:
All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts….And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2:44-47
The mode of the provision may differ, but the purpose of the provision remains the same and that is to facilitate His work, the work He has entrusted to you, be it in ministry or in the market place. And if we are honest, that is the MAIN purpose for wealth….to facilitate the vision He has placed in your heart.
Your Turn
Well, what if I do not know the work He has for me to do, does that mean He will not provide for me?
To that I say:
Whatever your hands find to do, do it with all your might…
Ecclesiastes 9:19
And while you do that, also know this:
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:11-13
Whether you are already working His work or you are uncertain of what work He has for you, remember this:
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.
Colossians 3:23
Even when you do not feel like working and your boss is really testing your salvation…continue to work unto Him, your master.
Remember, a worker is befitting his wages!