Matthew 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. 9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, 10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.

My niece was recently married and in her vows she said "for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health..." But it occured to me recently that there are actually now three ways to live in this world in relation to money. Rich, poor, and provided for. There is a third way not mentioned in marraige vows. This third way Jesus Christ has introduced into humanity. This third way of dealing with money was ushered into the world and into humanity via the kingdom of God. 

In Matthew 10 Jesus teaches his followers specifically to not provide for themselves, even if they had a wad of $100 bills he told them specifically not to bring it on their journey of preaching and healing and to let their work, in this case the preaching of the kingdom, to provide. This work they were doing was the labor of the workman. And the one who sent them to do the work was providing for them.

So for us, today we can enter this provided for economy of Jesus Christ we are to yield to him in all things and we are asked to work, to be his workman. Then we work at whatever work the Lord sets before us.

Living provided-for is living content, it is a way of life that works and does not try to escape work. It works to provide for itself and to give to others, but it knows ultimately it is God who gives the work, it is God who feeds, and clothes, and houses us. It does not try to get others (like the government welfare system, the disability insurance system, or rich family members to pay for lifestyle it expects.) It works to give, some have called this the Christian work ethic. The Christian work ethic is essentially we work with the intent to give to others.

For a Christian the best approach to life, the approach to life I believe that the Lord wants is an attitude of smallness. An attitude of contentedness with our life-situations and circumstances . An attitude of meekness. Does our life not measure up to our neighbors? Does that make us feel inferior?

Jesus Christ himself lived this way before and during his time of ministry. Jesus lived a small and humble life as a laborer a carpenter of stone and wood. Taking care of his own and his mother’s needs, working to provide. At the time of his death he also asked his friend to take care of his mother’s needs.

As he served the Lord, the Spirit of God sovereignly took his small life and accomplished God-things with it. All the while Jesus keeping that attitude of humble smallness, accepting provision, not building up a war-chest of money for his coming ministry. He didnt create a mega business building massive buildings and accumulating wealth, although he certainly could have. The Life of Jesus Christ again is a perfect example for us on how to relate to money.

The same applies to us as Christians, stay small, stay humble and yielded until maybe, if God decides to, use your life to accomplish God things.

“It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” – Lamentations‬ ‭3:26‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Don’t waste your life with coveting things like riches, rich husbands or rich wives, fame, or your neighbor’s wealth. Living small, humble, meek, and yielded is Godly and Christian maturity in the eyes and in the opinion of our Lord and his pleasure with us is all that matters to us.