Preparation: Our Responsibility

In our last two Sunday outdoor services (8/23/2020, 8/30/2020), we addressed the topic preparation. HF’s leadership, others in the church family, and some outside of HF through prayer believe that there will be some difficult patches of time in the next many months.

In prayer, the elders have received that we need to prepare and to help our church family be prepared for possible disrupted times individually and corporately. Why emphasize preparation? What will preparation look like? What do the Scriptures say regarding prepping or preparation?

PREPARATION IS BIBLICALLY ASSOCIATED WITH FAITH AND WISDOM

Is preparation biblical? The following verses are but a couple of many that demonstrate that not only is preparation biblical, it is also associated with faith and wisdom.

By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. Hebrews 11:7

Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. Proverbs 6:6-8

“A wise man thinks ahead; a fool doesn’t, and even brags about it!” Proverbs 13:16

The Scriptures are replete with teaching and examples regarding preparation. Noah was told a global judgment was coming, a flood. God forewarned Noah and provided wisdom to navigate the difficult time.

Joseph responded to the Pharaoh’s dreams of a coming famine. God said that there would be 7 years of abundance before the 7 years of scarcity. Joseph began prepping. Egypt survived, and other nations were blessed with provision as a result.

The biblical examples are many where God warns, and people respond in wisdom and faith by preparing for a difficult time.

MOTIVATION IN PREPARATION

When fear or self-centered hoarding motivates prepping, it betrays God’s heart and the Scriptures. Being motivated to prepare for what might come is different than being driven by a spirit of fear and self-centeredness.

Healthy preparation is motivated by a sense of responsibility. It is inspired by love and a desire to utilize provision to care for you, your family, and others as well as share the love of Jesus Christ in a time of need.

God used Joseph and Egypt’s preparations to minister to the surrounding nations during the years of famine. Likewise, God’s desire is that His people use their goods and talents to be positioned to draw the lost to Him and to provide for people in disrupted times.

PREPARATION TIPS

There is much more to say about preparation, and we will in the coming weeks. The question some of you have is, “How do I get started?”

September every year is National Preparedness Month. The government wants all citizens to be prepared for potential calamities. Ask yourself the following question, “How long could my family and I be sustained if food, water, prescription meds, and electricity were not available beginning tomorrow?” One day? Three days? Seven days? Two weeks?

Getting started in reasonable preparation is not as ominous as one might think. The following links can provide helpful information and are user friendly in your efforts to become adequately prepared.

• https://www.piercecountywa.org/945/Personal-Preparedness - (Pierce County)
• www.doh.wa.gov – (WA State)
• www.ready.gov – (National)

SUMMARY

We will send out more preparation blogs to provide more information to help us be reasonably and adequately prepared for an emergency or societal disruption. This will position us to live confidently and be a resource for others.
 
On behalf of the elders,
Mike