Faith and Prepping-What Does The Bible Say?
"Prepper"
What comes to mind when you hear the word prepper? Do you think of zombie apocalypse preppers? Perhaps people who quit their jobs to spend their time running defense drills and building fall out shelters comes to mind? If you have ever watched the show Doomsday Preppers or read a dystopian society novel you know what I'm talking about. Maybe you think of your great aunt Sally who has a year's worth of toilet paper in her closet. These stereotypical images are one end of the spectrum. On the opposite end of the spectrum are people who are living for today and only today. It's the person that believes any kind of prepping is thinking negatively. It's the church friend who gives you "the look" you know the one. It's the look that says without speaking, Girl are you craaaazy?-if you bring up anything that remotely implies that you could be a prepper because in their mind that is definitely NOT living by faith.
I don't necessarily like the term prepper because it gives the connotation of someone who is living in fear awaiting an eminent disaster at any moment. God's word tells us to not live in fear but to live by faith. Is is possible to live by faith and still be a prepper? What does the Bible have to say about all of this?
Biblical Faith Preppers
The bible give multiple examples of people who obeyed God's call to prep.
In Genesis 6 Noah was told to build an ark in preparation of a global flood. He stockpiled it full of every kind of animal and all the food and supplies to care for the animals and his family.
"By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household."
"You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. 20 Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive. You are to take every kind of food that is to be eaten and store it away as food for you and for them.”
Noah did everything just as God commanded him." Genesis 5:19-22
Another time, in genesis 41 God warned Joseph of an upcoming famine. He told Joseph to store up grain during the 7 years of plenty so that it could sustain them during times of hardship ."During those seven years, Joseph collected all the excess food in the land of Egypt and stored it in the cities. In every city he laid up the food from the fields around it. So Joseph stored up grain in such abundance, like the sand of the sea, that he stopped keeping track of it for it was beyond measure." Genesis 41:48-49
In these examples the biblical character heard God's voice and was obedient to His call to action. Faith without works is dead (James 2:17) There are Some defining characteristics about these examples: Faith is demonstrated in a desperate situation. The person chooses faith at a personal risk (their reputation, livelihood or even their life) BUT it opens the door for God's miraculous movement in response to the act of faith.
Verses About Being Prepared
"Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep?" Prov. 6:6-9
"The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps." Prov. 16:9
"Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house." Prov. 24:27
"The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it." Prov. 27:12 & Prov. 22:3
"But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes away one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity." Ezek. 33:6
"Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." 1 Tim 5:8
Practical Wisdom
Many times God gives us warnings so that we can prepare and pray. God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind. 2 Tim. 1:7 Faith and prepping go hand in hand. A faith prepper trusts in God's provision and sovereignty and is not driven by fear. Listen, watch and partner with God. If you feel it in your spirit that you should start a garden to help feed your family then trust in the Lord and just do it. You take the steps to prepare the ground and plant the seed but it is by God's miraculous design that makes the seed grows and puts forth a harvest. If you see that danger is coming, maybe a blizzard or tornado, God has given you a sound mind to prepare for that. Use that guidance and wisdom to prepare accordingly. There is nothing unfaithful or untrusting about taking actions steps to be prepared. Even the office of homeland security suggests that all Americans should have at least 6 months of food and provisions stored up. If everyone started living like this then there wouldn't be toilet paper shortages or empty bread shelves that the grocery store before each snow storm.
A final note. It is good to be prepared practically. God's word tells us that revelations will happen. Eventually, there will be tribulation that comes to this earth. While we are being practical preppers let's not forget to be spiritual faith preppers too. In Luke 21 it says, "And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
In conclusion, "prepping" for the next season, an emergency or the future is wise. Continue to pray, seek God and take steps of faith.
© The Home Sanctuary 2021