Anyone who has ever gone camping in a remote location knows the importance of proper preparation. Unlike car camping, where you can simply drive to the nearest store or go home in a few hours, remote camping typically involves hiking or canoeing a full day or more just to get to where you want to be. Once you get there, you soon realize that if you haven’t brought it and the location doesn’t naturally provide it, it isn’t there! Nothing quite grips you like realizing you forgot a warm enough jacket, are running out of fresh water or didn’t pack quite enough food. The rush of adrenaline immediately gives way to a near-overwhelming sense of panic. Such things turn trips into adventures, albeit in a most uncomfortable way. Not properly managed, they can even turn what was supposed to be a wonderful trip into a life-or-death situation. Preparation is important.
The same is true of all overnight travel. You always want to ensure you have enough money to get to where you are going and the right clothing for the conditions you’ll find along the way. We know these things. So Jesus’ advice to His disciples as He sends them out appears to fly in the face of common-sense, “Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.” Is Jesus saying that preparation is not necessary for the Christian?
Hardly. Actually, Jesus had been preparing His disciples for some time for this next step in their journey of faith. Jesus was following a plan, and that plan required the discipling of a group of followers who could take the Good News all around the world, discipling many more along the way. All that Jesus had done to this point was His preparation, and now He commissions the disciples knowing they are spiritually prepared enough to do what He wants them to do.
Commentator Stuart Weber writes, “Having trained the disciples by example in chapters 8–9, Jesus took them another step forward. His command not to take any money or supplies for their journey was a great challenge to their faith in God’s provision. Jesus wanted the Twelve to focus on who they represented as they ministered to those in need. If they would make his kingdom their sole focus, the Father would provide their daily needs through those to whom they ministered.” Commentator Leon Morris puts it this way, “The disciples are workmen for God, and they can rely on their employer to supply the things they need.”
They can, and they must. Jesus’ point is not that they should be truly unprepared. It is that when you have chosen to wholeheartedly follow Him and are spiritually prepared to do what God wants you to do, you can rightly expect God to provide all you need to glorify Him as you go. God’s obedient disciples are not assured of a comfortable life, nor a life free from want. Rather, it means we will not physically lack what He needs us to physically have to fulfill His purpose through us.
Our fallen nature is untrusting, so our flesh tells us to reject that idea and store up an abundance for ourselves that is so great we could not possibly use it all along the way. Yet it is obvious to all who look on that hoarding resources is evidence of distrust of the Father as our provider. Worse, our lack of faith hinders God’s message through us. Knowing that doesn’t make it any easier to let go and simply trust Him. But it does cause us to daily choose to overcome our fallen flesh, and simply trust Him along the way.
Through following Christ’s example, believers will persevere and learn to live in dependence on God alone.
Tokunboh Adeyemo
APPLICATION: Worship
God will provide for His obedience followers. This is the promise of eternity. Why should it not be our promise for today? Let us worship God, believing on His provision.