Prepare Wisely

 Luke 22:35 And he said to them, "When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?" They said, "Nothing." 36 He said to them, "But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.

35 Καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· ὅτε ἀπέστειλα ὑμᾶς ἄτερ βαλλαντίου καὶ πήρας καὶ ὑποδημάτων, μή τινος ὑστερήσατε; οἱ δὲ εἶπαν· οὐθενός. 36  εἶπεν δὲ αὐτοῖς· ἀλλὰ νῦν ὁ ἔχων βαλλάντιον ἀράτω, ὁμοίως καὶ πήραν, καὶ ὁ μὴ ἔχων πωλησάτω τὸ ἱμάτιον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀγορασάτω μάχαιραν.

I have always found this passage to be interesting.  There are those who preach asceticism for the minister of the gospel.  They say that we should all be like the apostles and travel with no provisions so that God will take care of us.  Of course, they are right to a certain degree because God ultimately does provide.  He uses means and in the case of the original evangelists He used kind souls in the various towns to provide for them.

I can't believe I'm agreeing with Benny Hinn on something, but I don't think that ministers are supposed to dress and eat like John the Baptist today.  I do disagree with him in that ministers should not have private jets and live opulent lifestyles either.  Jesus teaches us to follow a simple path.  However, this passage also tells us that we are to be prudent in how we live.  To be irresponsible would be akin to throwing ourselves off the pinnacle of the temple and expecting God to catch us.

One small Greek note is to see how Jesus phrases His question to the disciples.  He asks them  μή τινος ὑστερήσατε; which means that He expected a negative response.  He knew that they lacked nothing and wanted to drive this home to them.