2100.—Providing for One's Self.
By Editor
Please give me an explanation of Matt. 10:9, 10. Would it be wrong for a man to provide for his own expenses in the work? I see in Matt. 6:25 and in other passages not to provide for the body. Matthew 10 speaks of a certain mission which Jesus gave to His twelve disciples. In Luke 22:35 we read these words: "And He said unto them, When I sent you forth without purse, and wallet, and shoes, lacked ye anything? And they said, Nothing. And He said unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise a wallet." The Lord would have us understand by this that different circumstances call for different plans. He has not laid down one single mode of operation by which our life is to be governed in mere business affairs. Sometimes His Spirit tells His missionaries to go out without making any provision whatsoever, with simple faith in Him; the same Spirit may teach another man to go provided with proper amount of funds. In the Pentecostal church some gave their all, like Barnabas, and God used him; some said they gave their all while they withheld a part, like Ananias and Sapphira, and God's judgment rested upon them; and yet Peter told them that it was theirs to give or to keep just as they chose. God makes us stewards of our means here. If He has given us the ability to earn money, He will also give us wisdom to use it in the right way. If He asks us to go on a certain mission, and we have not the funds, and yet He says Go, it is duty to go, and trust Him for the rest. If His Spirit says, Earn means by which to go and do the work, or which will help us to enter His work, still heed the voice of the Spirit. Matt. 6:25 does not say that we should provide nothing for the body. Read as in the Revised Version, "Therefore I say unto you, Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on." Other translations, "Take no anxious thought;" do not worry over those things if you are doing God's will; "seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness," and leave the rest with God. There are many scriptures which show the duty of Christians to work for their living, to support themselves, to support their families, to be prudent and economical. There is danger of becoming so absorbed in the world that our hearts will be set on gain. There is also danger of taking the words of Scripture in such a way as to lead to utter fanaticism, such as has been manifest thru the ages where men give themselves up to idleness and feel that the public ought to support them as holy men. See 2 Thess. 3:7-12.