Don’t wait for a crisis to prepare and save

“He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9:6)

Anyone familiar with the Scouts’ motto “be prepared”? From what I remember of my days as a Brownie (the rank before Girl Scout), we were taught life skills like how to build a fire as we camped in our troop leader’s backyard, how to tie a knot, and many other things I can no longer recall. Well, there are many life skills we need to know and practice in order to be prepared for the unknown. The three I want to point out are saving money, stocking up on supplies, and relationship with God.

Saving money is a life skill because when tough times hit, you need to have money on hand. After being out of work for three weeks now, I’m still waiting for my unemployment benefits to go through just like many others who are in the same boat. Thankfully, I have been saving money since I was 11 years old (my grandparents gave me a savings account). I’ve been blessed not to have to work full-time. I don’t have student loans or car loans. I’m not trying to brag here; I just want people to be aware that saving money has its benefits in the long run. When you have a good amount of money (in the thousands) saved up, you can weather a financial crisis well.

Another important life skill is always to have extras on hand. I couldn’t get over all the panic buying in the last month, especially with toilet paper. Thankfully, Mom and I already had plenty of it as well as cleaning supplies. About 3-4 times a year, we make a special trip to the nearest Sam’s Club (about an hour-and-a-half from home) to buy extras like toilet paper, paper towels, Kleenex, medicinal supplies, canned foods, etc. When this pandemic (I like to say panicdemic) hit, we were not panicking, but Mom kept asking me how we were doing on supplies. To reassure her that we were decently stocked up, I checked the kitchen pantry and closets throughout the house, then I confirmed that we’re good for now.

The most important thing to be prepared for is your spiritual walk with God. Yesterday, I shared a Facebook post that spoke to my soul and emphasized the importance of having that relationship with Jesus, my Lord and Savior. Daved Thomas, another local author in my hometown wrote, “Bible prophecy is not to scare you but to prepare you, but if you are scared then you are not prepared.” We are living in the end times. Over 2000 years ago when Jesus walked this earth and started His ministry at the age of 30, He promised His return to Earth. In John 14: 1-3, Jesus tells His disciples, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

We don’t know when He will return to Earth. Even Jesus doesn’t know when He will return. According to Mark 13:32 and Matthew 24:36, Jesus said that only His Father (God) knows when He will return. Life on Earth is not all there is. If you have a relationship with Jesus and have asked Him to be Lord of your life, then you will have life after Earth. Eternity with Jesus is far greater than what we have right now on Earth.

Being prepared does not mean you are living in fear; it just means you are using wisdom and when a major crisis hits, you are more equipped to handle it. Be blessed everyone and remember God is greater than our mountains!