Luck Had Nothing To Do With It

A storm is coming

Good Morning Joe

Here are just a few thoughts after spending a couple days on a one day road trip.  God knows when things don’t go like you planned.  Our response is to have faith that He is in control and it all is in His hands.  Sometimes that is easy, sometimes not. 

This is a review of the past 3 days of posts with some added thoughts

People who prepare, “Prepers” are scoffed at ridiculed or labeled as fringe. Many Christians are taught that doing physical works of preparedness is a lack of faith. That it shows a lack of trust in Jesus Christ, our provider. But is this really true? We are all familiar with I Tim. 5:8 which says,

“But if any provide not for his own, and especially those of his own house, he hath denied the faith and is worse than an infidel.”

This scripture is referring to more than just “going to work” and “paying the bills”, and “putting food on the table”. The word “provide” actually means to “consider in advance, i.e. look out for beforehand.” This is interesting. Jesus is telling us that in order to properly provide for our house, we must be able to forecast, in advance, the potential problems coming our way, and to act accordingly. This is putting our faith into practice. Otherwise we have “denied the faith”.

I could not find the source for this quote:

“Good luck happens when preparedness meets opportunity”

A lot of people fall into the habit of crediting ‘luck’ or ‘good fortune’ with events in their life.  Of course there is neither luck nor good fortune in this world or the next.  Our Creator knows the beginning from the end filling the Bible with prophecy, often in minute detail to prove both His existence and power. 

“A prudent man foresees the difficulties ahead and prepares for them; the simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.” – Proverbs 22:3

In fact if you go back to the 1700’s you will find a wealth of wisdom from a people that as a whole were much more educated, knowledgeable and wise than the average person in America today.  Raised with a fear, (proper respect) of the Lord they had great wisdom that is seldom taught in schools today.

George Washington did not believe in luck, he believed in preparedness stating:

 “To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.”

“In fair weather prepare for foul.”  Thomas Fuller

Are you getting ready before the storm arrives?

To be prepared requires action.  Knowledge without action is foolishness.  Wes Fessler puts it this way: “To be prepared is to anticipate risk and to prudently act toward prevention.”

Once you receive knowledge about a danger and are convinced that it is a risk to you, ACTION is required.  

Proverbs 14:23 promises; All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

Proverbs 6:6-8: Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provision in summer and gathers its food at harvest.

In the 5^th Century BC Herodotus, called the “Father of History” said;

“It is better, by noble boldness, to run the risk of being subject to half

the evils we anticipate than to sit in cowardly inaction, for fear of what

audacity might bring forth.”

Don’t let others, through scoffing at ridicule or false labels deter you from acting on God’s leading.  Don’t let other Christians use the Bible out of context to prevent you from acting on God’s leading.  Make sure you are both seeking and following God’s leading.

I believe there are signs in the news, on the internet and even just talking to friends and neighbors, that very hard times are ahead for our nation.  Even if this were not the case most people in the country admit that they are not prepared for even minor local emergencies.  How well are you prepared?

Preparedness Joe