The verb provide has two different subcategorisation frames: provide something [ to somebody] provide somebody with something In the first, the material provided is the object, in the second the recipient is the object. Both are valid, and both are in common use. The difference between them is the with phrase, which must be there to get meaning 2: if there is only one (direct) object, then ...
In other words, these are questions of coherent and natural-sounding phrasing, rather than strictly grammar, I believe. "Provide for the common good" is an example of "provide" without an A and a B, by the way. You can "provide for" something, or "provision" something, or "provide" something to someone.