HOARDING OR PREPARING?
Genesis 41:46b-49
"And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt. Now in the seven plentiful years the ground brought forth abundantly. So he gathered up all the food of the seven years which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up food in the cities; he laid up in every city the food of the fields which surrounded them."
Joseph was led by God to gather the grain and save it in anticipation of the future drought. There are two approaches to material things. One is to hoard, and the other is to prepare. So what is the difference? Hoarding makes money a god to be treasured and loved. It is like the king in the children's song who sat in his counting house counting out his money. Jesus told the story of the rich man who kept building more and more barns so he would have "many goods laid up for many years" (Luke 12:18-19). Having material things was his focus in life. Jesus said not to lay up treasures on earth and not worry about tomorrow, but to live day to day like the birds (Matthew 6:19, 25-34). On the other hand, we are instructed to be wise and consider the ant because it gathers food in the summer (Proverbs 6:6-8). Winter is coming and it is wise to prepare for it. So what is the balance? Hoarding is the acquiring of goods for the sake of having stuff. Preparation is using stuff to prepare for the future. This is a heart matter. The rich man who is a hoarder "lays up treasure for himself, but is not rich toward God" (Luke 12:21). Jesus put it this way: "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Luke 12:34). I need to prepare for the future but not make material things my god to be treasured and worshiped. I can trust God to supply my needs for tomorrow because He is the source of all I have. But I am also called to be a good steward of what He has given me today so I can prepare for tomorrow.
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The wise person prepares for the future, but does not make material things his god.
[end]
Have a preparation day. Love you.
Genesis 41:46b-49
"And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt. Now in the seven plentiful years the ground brought forth abundantly. So he gathered up all the food of the seven years which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up food in the cities; he laid up in every city the food of the fields which surrounded them."
Joseph was led by God to gather the grain and save it in anticipation of the future drought. There are two approaches to material things. One is to hoard, and the other is to prepare. So what is the difference? Hoarding makes money a god to be treasured and loved. It is like the king in the children's song who sat in his counting house counting out his money. Jesus told the story of the rich man who kept building more and more barns so he would have "many goods laid up for many years" (Luke 12:18-19). Having material things was his focus in life. Jesus said not to lay up treasures on earth and not worry about tomorrow, but to live day to day like the birds (Matthew 6:19, 25-34). On the other hand, we are instructed to be wise and consider the ant because it gathers food in the summer (Proverbs 6:6-8). Winter is coming and it is wise to prepare for it. So what is the balance? Hoarding is the acquiring of goods for the sake of having stuff. Preparation is using stuff to prepare for the future. This is a heart matter. The rich man who is a hoarder "lays up treasure for himself, but is not rich toward God" (Luke 12:21). Jesus put it this way: "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Luke 12:34). I need to prepare for the future but not make material things my god to be treasured and worshiped. I can trust God to supply my needs for tomorrow because He is the source of all I have. But I am also called to be a good steward of what He has given me today so I can prepare for tomorrow.
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The wise person prepares for the future, but does not make material things his god.
[end]
Have a preparation day. Love you.
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