The Principle Of Preparation

There are several wisdom books in the Bible. For example, Proverbs is a Book of wisdom pearls string together to form a book. The Book of Ecclesiastes is another example. In the New Testament, the Book of James, in Chapter 1, verse 5  tells us to ask God for wisdom;  “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him”
 
 We must all understand that we cannot live in this world without wisdom. If the most brilliant man to walk this earth after Jesus was Solomon, then Solomon's secret was the wisdom, governance that he asked God. In the book of Proverbs wisdom is personified as a woman that you must chase. If you have wisdom, you will succeed in your spiritual life, your financial well-being, family life, ministry and every other area of your life. In the book of Proverbs, there is a lot of emphasis placed on wisdom, knowledge and understanding. These three aspects are constantly repeated throughout the Bible. Knowledge is knowing about things, but wisdom  is more practical in nature, it is that which helps you implement the knowledge in your life. Understanding is the bridge between knowledge and wisdom. If knowledge must become wisdom, then there should be understanding. 

Does the Bible write about finances? In Luke 16:10-11, Jesus says, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?”

Financial knowledge is key. This is also emphasized by Christ. A lot of things in your life depend on the way you handle money .i.e. money management. Spiritual life will also depend on the way you handle money, especially when it comes to building a ministry for the Lord. If a person handling money is not smart about it, then they will not succeed in ministry as well.

 In the previous week, I spoke about the principle of investment and the importance of it from Ecclesiastes 11.1. If you are a good homemaker, you will always have something stored and will not panic if someone comes. For example Proverbs 31 describes the wise woman. 

There are several passages in the Bible where it is emphasized that we must invest and save up for the future and for our near and dear ones. Therefore, there must be a balance in your life, where you save enough for the future, be wise about your spending and care for others. Some people misquote the principle of investment with the verse from Matthew 6:19-21, where Jesus said “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
This must be understood according to the context in which Jesus said it. Paul has written in his epistles that we need to keep aside money for the future. 

Another important principle in the Bible is diversification. We must invest in several things and not put all your money in one basket. 

The principle of preparation is another important aspect emphasized in the scriptures. 

Ecclesiastes 11:3 says, ‘If clouds are full of water, they pour rain on the earth. Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there it will lie.”

When the cloud is heavy and darkness fills the sky, it signals heavy downpour. In our households when it looks like it’s about to rain, we often run outside to get all our clothes inside that were out being dried under the sun. This is essentially a precaution that we take in case it rains. In the same way, preparation is also essential in all our lives. If a challenging time comes in our life, we should be able to face it and pray through it without losing faith.
 Expect the best, but be prepared for the worst. 
Live your life hoping for the best. Take a step forward hoping that only the best will befall you. But always be cautious and prepared for the worst, both mentally and otherwise. Joseph had the wisdom from the Lord which helped him prepare for the bad time (famine). During the seven years of prosperity, Joseph prepared for the famine that will befall his kingdom. He stocked and stored grains and all other essentials, which led to plenty even during the famine. This also led to Egypt prospering during a famine when others weren’t. Trusting God without preparation is not faith, but presumption. And God does not support presumption. We should not jump into things, without thought, preparation or contemplation, thinking God will take care of us. You must have faith but you should not be foolish in the name of faith. You should not be delusional in your thinking which is called presumption. 

Proverbs 6:6 says, ‘Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.’

We are asked to learn from the ants in their sense of preparedness. The ant stores up for the winter and gathers food during harvest. The ant does this out of its wisdom, knowledge and understanding and not under the command of an overseer. We should all think along the same lines and be prepared at all times.

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About The Author:

Dr. Damien Antony
Born and brought up in a Christian family, Dr. Damien Antony possessed an unquenching quest for truth right from his boyhood days and eventually his relentless search led him to the Bible. He is a Revival Preacher, Bible Teacher, Leadership Trainer, Author and a Life Coach. He moves under the anointing for Prophetic, Healing, Deliverance, Inner Healing and Financial Breakthrough. God has also blessed him with an Apostolic Mandate to take the Universal Body of Christ to the next level of revelation and anointing.