Men Are Providers

Lesson Outline for Aug 28, 2025

Men are Providers

Goal – For men to understand their responsibility, role and assignment to work, serve and provide for themselves, wife and family.

• Did man work when he was first created?
• What characteristic change happened in Eden regarding man providing?
• What does the Bible say regarding work?
• What do you think angels are doing 24/7?
• Will we work in heaven?

If you would like to receive ministry updates text ADVANCE to 888-495-0877

Hebrew and Greek Terms / Definitions

• Work– #H5647 “abad” to work, serve, labor, to till the ground, spy, to look out, to watch closely; #G2038 “ergazomai” to labor, work, do work, make gains by trading, exercise, perform, commit, earn by working, to acquire, to work for
• To keep– #H8104 “samar” to keep, have charge of, to watch, to keep guard of, protect, preserve,
• Pain – #H6093 “issabon” pain, hardship, labor, sorrow, toil

The green is the author’s notations in the verses below. Bold text added for emphasis

Created to work and provide; man is anointed to give, the woman to receive

The first Adam’s passivity shifted the character of our work to provide

Gen 2:5, 15 ESV – “5 When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up–for the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work (abad) the ground…, 15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden (gan-enclosure) of Eden to work it and keep (samar) it.”

Gen 3:17-19, 23 ESV – “17 And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain (issabon) you shall eat of it all the days of your life; 18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” … 23 therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken.”

• We see Adam (man – you and I) was created to “work and keep,”- what’s was his relationship like with His Father before sin?
• Character of labor shifted, no longer enjoyable; now pain and toil (an unbreakable curse)
• Man has the anointing to provide; we are created to provide, the woman is the “helper” – same value, different anointing, same value different role/responsibility
• Our society put things “out of order” the man was made to give, the woman to receive
• We were made to work – physically stronger; Giving and receiving is in our anatomy / physiology

 

Comfort is not our friend

Comfortable people don’t change history

Prov 6:6-11 ESV – “6 Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. 7 Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, 8 she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. 9 How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, 11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.”

Prov 10:4-5 ESV – “4 A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. 5 He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.”

Prov 12:24 ESV – “The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.”

Prov 16:27 ESV – “A worthless man plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.” (Idle hands are a devil’s workshop)

• Are you partnering with a false/devil doctrine? Partnering with them brings ruin to us and our future generations – spirits of poverty, lack, mammon, greed, theft, worthlessness, victim and more
• Do you know anyone who just can’t seem to breakthrough, always scheming, some work hard not to work?
• We don’t need more “comfort commandos”
• Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Caleb, Gideon, Samuel, David, Isaiah, Jesus Christ’s disciples and Jesus Christ were providers – NOT comfortable – Jesus Christ provided to us while we were still His enemy
• There is a spiritual disconnect relative to “Western” Christianity (US, Europe, etc) and comfort

 

Men are created to serve, provide and give

God’s word is clear – we are to work and provide

2 Thess 3:6-12 ESV – “6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 9 It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. 11 For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.”

• Jesus and His disciples provided for their means – it was a minimum standard
• False narrative – “WE DESERVE …” without work, labor, sweat, effort (story of college)
• NOT Biblical, and it violates scripture
• God promised to be with us, provide and sustain us – it does not obviate our participation and labor – other doctrines preached in churches and the “church of politics” and “church of social media” is meant to destroy us!
• Sept 1608 Jamestown Colony – Captain John Smith Virginia Colony stated “if you don’t work you don’t eat” – after a harsh winter. Why did he say this? 2 Thess 6:10 and colonist’s attitude of “this work is below me” – Viriginia Colony goal – not religious freedom, what was it?

 

Jesus modeled providing, service and labor

You don’t start at the top – you require training and preparation

Luke 10:1-2 ESV – “1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 And he said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’ ” (also Matt 9:37)

Phil 2:6-7 ESV – “6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant (doulos), being born in the likeness of men.”

• Jesus Christ became a bond-servant
• As a man of God, we serve Jesus Christ, our wife, children, family and church as bond-servants; devoted to another, not for our own interests
• We see prayer and then action – the disciples prayed then were the laborers; Jesus sent out 72 disciples ahead of Him – they were laborers – our harvest begins with our families
• We don’t start at the top – How long was Joesph’s, Moses’, Joshua’s, David’s, apostles, prep and training time?
• We must pass tests to get promoted
• Our “ceiling” is our next generations “floor” – God sees us in generations
• Have balance! Don’t escape your husband and father responsibilities by staying at work

 

We are providers, not complainers

Complaining is not a strategy, and man’s government is not our savior or solution

Col 3:18-24 ESV – “18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. 22 Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” (Col 3:18-25 “Rules for Christan Households)

1 Tim 5:8 ESV – “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

Act 20:34-35 ESV – “34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ “

Neh 4:16 ESV – “16 From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. And the leaders stood behind the whole house of Judah, 17 who were building on the wall. Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other. 18 And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me.”

• We don’t complain, we’re joyful & praise God; He gave us the ability to work; it’s a privilege to provide
• The first institution / government on earth from God was FAMILY – the family’s destruction is our problem. Don’t defer our responsibilities to the government
• Man’s governments are not meant to provide for the welfare of households – families provide for family members, then the “church” body of Christ God’s government provides
• Government welfare of households is a way to control people, it is ungodly and meant to usurp God’s will for His creation
• We see in Nehemiah above men working to build physical protection (wall) with weapons in hand
• Don’t enable dysfunction – ungodly patterns; – ID the patterns and come out of agreement

 

There’s no unemployment in heaven

We will be serving in heaven

Rev 22:3 NIV – “No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.”

Rev 7:13-15 ESV – “13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 “Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.”

• No unemployed angels in heaven, now or in the future
• Are we serving on earth like we will in heaven?; “thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”
• No weariness or exhaustion in heaven

 

Last thoughts and considerations

• God’s purpose for marriage is to glorify Him; He desires us to be more holy, not more happy
• God’s plan from the beginning was for men to provide, to work, to serve, to give and to keep (guard) – God put this in our DNA. Anything else is from the father of lies – Satan
• We are a warrior providers! Great warriors don’t take short-cuts, they do the work, God’s process prepares strong warriors who are selfless servants, humble, are not “Comfort Commandos” See Neh 4 below
• Don’t raise “Comfort Commandos” and DON’T accept the Comfort Commando narrative
• Being a righteous provider is TAUGHT and CAUGHT – and provide a vision
• Be a provider, not a consumer; our model is Jesus Christ, He provided not consumed
• Modern marriage is a “consumer” marriage – emotions rule the marriage; Godly marriage is sacrificial, sacrificial love demonstrates love over emotion – we love when we don’t feel like it.
• “Man Up” Real warriors are “obedience oriented,” not “feeling oriented” – Don’t partner with a victim spirit – we are conquerors, not victims
• Our obedience to God sets a pattern and sows seeds for us and our future generations – don’t think “what’s in it for me”
• Our CEILING is our next generation’s FLOOR – think past yourself
• God can accelerate us when we abide in Him. PRAY and MOVE; God doesn’t move a parked car
• Walk in God’s commandments to you as priest, protector and provider

 

Decree – I will honor my God given responsibility as provider to myself, my wife and children – comfort is not my companion

 

Other verses for self-study

Matt 9:37-38 ESV – “37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Jesus told us to pray and do / labor)

Luke 15:14-16 ESV – “14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.” (he knew, “I work or I die”)

1 Thess 4:10-12 ESV – “10 for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, 11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.”

Isa 65:21-23 ESV – “21 They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They shall not labor in vain or bear children for calamity, for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the LORD, and their descendants with them.”

Neh 4:15-23 ESV – “15 When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work. 16 From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. And the leaders stood behind the whole house of Judah, 17 who were building on the wall. Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other. 18 And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me. 19 And I said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “The work is great and widely spread, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another. 20 In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.” 21 So we labored at the work, and half of them held the spears from the break of dawn until the stars came out. 22 I also said to the people at that time, “Let every man and his servant pass the night within Jerusalem, that they may be a guard for us by night and may labor by day.” 23 So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us took off our clothes; each kept his weapon at his right hand.” (Workers and watchman at the same time; we are always watchman, ready to fight in the spirit and natural)