Faith & survival

[Mr.Hoppes]

I pose this question to you fellows interested in survival.

Where is the balance come between being a survivalist in the world we live in and Faith?

I know that God will protect Me. ( I won’t turn this into a religious debate ).

SO where is the line drawn?

Being completely ( as much as possible ) prepared, having a bunker, a stocked armory, food & water stocks
and seeds. ( add anything I am not mentioning )

Verses doing nothing and believing God will take care of Us?

I believe that while God will protect, we as believers need to do our part. There is no lack of faith on my part. If anything I see being prepared as an act of faith. I believe there is a work to be done. I know that some people when faced with difficult times will fold and abandon their faith. If I am prepared I will make it easier for my family to “labor in the vineyard” & “endure until the end“. I also believe that when being prepared interferes with serving God, there is the HARD line that I will not cross.

PLEASE keep this a constructive commentary.

[Sailor]

Luke 22:36 (New International Version) Jesus Speaking

36 He said to them, "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.




The Bible's take on preparedness is clear.


Proverbs 6:6-8
6 You people who don't want to work, think about the ant!
Consider its ways and be wise!
7 It has no commander.
It has no leader or ruler.
8 But it stores up its food in summer.
It gathers its food at harvest time.

Proverbs 21:20
The best food and olive oil are stored up in the houses of wise people. But a foolish man eats up everything he has.

Prov 27:23
23 Be sure you know how your flocks are doing.
Pay careful attention to your herds.
24 Riches don't last forever.
And a crown is not secure for all time to come.
25 The hay is removed, and new growth appears.
The grass from the hills is gathered in.
26 Then your lambs will provide you with clothes.
And the money from selling your goats will buy you a field.
27 You will have plenty of goats' milk.
It will feed you and your family.
It will also feed your female servants.

Prov 22:3
Wise people see danger and go to a safe place.
But childish people keep going and suffer for it.
Matthew 10:22, “He that endures to the end shall be saved.”

ADVANTAGES OF STORING FOOD

We see from the Word of God and from history that this is a normal way of living. Although we don’t need to rely on it in our computerized age, it still has advantages.

When we have food stored. . .
1. We always have something on hand to share with guests who arrive unexpectedly.
2. We have something on hand to give to a family who urgently needs provision of food.
3. We have food available in times of emergency, e.g. earthquakes, snowstorms, hurricanes, tornados etc.
4. We don’t have to get into a state of worry because even if lean times or traumas arise, we are prepared to feed our family. This actually relieves stress.

CAN WE SURVIVE ON STORED FOOD?

If we did face a situation where we couldn’t race to the supermarket and get whatever we needed, how would we survive? What if we couldn’t get fresh fruit and vegetables daily? We see a very interesting Scripture in Leviticus 25 where God proclaims the principle of the Sabbath rest for the land every seven years. Every seventh year the land was to have complete rest. They were not allowed to plant any seeds. They were not allowed to harvest grain that grew by itself. They were not allowed to gather the grapes from their un-pruned vines. The food that grew of itself was to be available to all – servants, strangers and wild animals.

So how were they to survive without planting and harvest? God knew that they would ask this question. Let’s read in Leviticus 25:20-22, “And if ye shall say, “What shall we eat the seventh year? Behold, we shall not sow, nor gather in our increase: Then I will command my blessing upon you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three years. And ye shall sow the eighth year, and eat yet of old fruit until the ninth year; until her fruits come in ye shall eat of the old store.”

The children of Israel ate stored food for nearly three years. Obviously God knew that they could survive and keep healthy even on stored food. He promised them that if they would obey His laws, that there would not be “one feeble person among all their tribes.” Eating stored and sun-dried food was part of their lives.

Can you imagine how hard they would have to work? It is a tiring job to harvest and store enough for one year, let alone for three years! But I am sure that it would have been a wonderful time of shouting and rejoicing. They would also need to have lots of extra room to store all this food. We read in the Scriptures how the prosperous kings of Israel built storehouses for all their excess grain and wine and oil. Let’s look at scriptural examples:

► Obed-Edom’s sons looked after the “storehouse” of the tabernacle. 1 Chronicles 26:15-17.
► David’s overseer, Azmaveth was in charge of “the royal storehouses.” 1 Chronicles 27:25.
► David’s overseer, Jonathan was in charge of “the storehouses in the country, in the cities, in the villages and in the towers.” 1 Chronicles 27:25
► David’s administrator, Zabdi had charge of “the produce of the vineyards stored in the wine cellars.” 1 Chronicles 27:27
► David’s overseer, Joash, was in charge of “the stores of oil.” 1 Chronicles 27:28
► David gave his son Solomon plans for “the storehouses” of the house of God and for the “storehouses” of the dedicated things. 1 Chronicles 28:11-12.
► Solomon built many “store cities.” 1 Kings 9:19; 2 Chronicles 8:4,6,15
► Rehoboam “fortified the stronghold, and put captains in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine.” 2 Chronicles 11:11.
► Jehoshaphat “waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles, and cities of store.” 2 Chronicles 17:12.
► Hezekiah gave orders for the people to bring in food for the priests and the Levites. As soon as the order went out, the Israelites gave generously of grain, new wine, oil, honey, and from the crops of their fields. They brought so much that “Hezekiah gave orders to prepare storerooms in the temple of the Lord, and this was done… Conaniah, A Levite, was in charge of these things…” 2 Chronicles 31:11-12 NIV.
► Hezekiah “had exceeding much riches and honor: and he made…. storehouses also for the increase of corn, and wine, and oil….” 2 Chronicles 32:28.
► Because the store cities and storehouses were so important for the survival of the people, when Benhadad came against the cities of Israel, he captured all the store cities of Naphtali. This strategy would cause the people to starve. 2 Chronicles 16:4.
► Ten men saved their lives by exposing food they had stored in the fields, “Do not kill us, for we have stores of wheat, barley, oil, and honey hidden in the fields. So he refrained and did not kill them.” Jeremiah 41:8 RSV.

Of course, we are all familiar with the story of how God told Joseph through a dream to store up food for seven years!
► Genesis 41:36, “That food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine.”
► Genesis 41:56, “And the famine was over all the face of the earth: and Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians.” The storehouses became the survival of nations.

The Hebrew word that is used for the ‘store’ cities is ‘micknah’ which means ‘treasure’. Wow, that’s exciting. Their store of food that they put away became their treasure. Without it they would starve.
IT TAKES HARD WORK

Let’s see what God’s Word says about working hard to provide our food:

Proverbs 6:6-8, “Go to the ant, thou sluggard, consider her ways, and be wise: which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provides her meat in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.” Some translations say, “PONDER the ant…”

Proverbs 6:8 TLB says the ants “labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter.”

Proverbs 10:4, “He becomes poor that deals with a slack hand.”

Proverbs 10:5, “He that gathers in summer is a wise son, but he that sleeps in harvest is a son that causes shame.” Repeated in Proverbs 20:4.

Proverbs 22:3 TLB, repeated in Proverbs 27:12
“A prudent man foresees the difficulties ahead and prepares for them, the simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.”

Proverbs 28:19, “He that tills his land shall have plenty of bread.” Repeated in Proverbs 12:11.

Harvest time is such an important time in the year, that it is the time of greatest joy. Isaiah 16: 9,10 intimates that it is a time of SINGING, SHOUTING AND JOY.

4. PLAN AND PREPARE.

MATTHEW 25:10. “The foolish said unto the wise, give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out…. And while they went to buy the Bridegroom came…and THEY THAT WERE READY went in with him to the marriage and the door was shut.”

5. PLANT AND PRESERVE.

Where possible plant a garden and harvest it. Then preserve and dry your harvest.

6. PITY UPON THE POOR.

Proverbs 19:17 says, “He that hath pity upon the poor lends unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.”

Leviticus 19:9-10, “And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the Lord your God.”


riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the Lord your God.” Ruth 2:2-16.

Deuteronomy 24:19-21

“When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands.

When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.

When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.”

Proverbs 22:9, “He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed: for he gives of his bread to the poor.”

Proverbs 25:21, “If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink, For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.”

Proverbs 28:27. “He that gives unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hides his eyes shall have many a curse.”

Proverbs 29:7, “The righteous considers the cause of the poor.”

Psalm 37:21,26, “The righteous shows mercy, and gives…He is ever merciful and lends and his seed is blessed.”

STORING IS BIBLICAL, HOARDING IS UNBIBLICAL!

Note this: Storing food is biblical, but hoarding is evil! God’s Word shows us clearly that it is a normal way of living to store food with the motive of not only feeding our family, but feeding whoever else we can. However, if we store food with the motive of hoarding for ourselves only, we are out of God’s will.

[CulpeperMM]

great post sailor

[haldir]

I also have Faith in the Lord. I don't think that means he is going to do for me, what he gave me the good sense and ability to do for myself.

[Archbishop]

As our pastor says, "the Lord protects us, but David used a weapon in his hand to kill the giant."
I would look to the story of Joseph how God used him to put away food for the famine. God gave him the wisdom and means to save the nation, but he still had to act and implement a plan to store food away for the famine.
So when I get caught in a storm that I couldn't for see I'm trusting God to protect me. When there is a possibility that I may need to have some supplies on hand or prep for man made or natural disasters I thank God for giving me the wisdom and means to prepare for the those times. Either way God and my faith are important to how I live my life.

[hotfarmboy1]

Good post Sailor!! I have faith that he will help protect and take care of me in times of need as well. But I also know that I must do whatever I can to do as much as possible to prepare ahead and keep ready. So that's what I always try to do!

[VN Vet]

God will not give us anything we can not handle. However, as is well stated above, we must be prepared. God never promised us a perfect day or a perfect world. He will take care of us. If not this life, then the next. Never give up the Hope and never give up the Faith.

Our Lord Jesus said, If it were not so, He would have told us. Or something like that. I among many believe His Words.

[Joe Williams]

Reminds me of a joke I once heard.

Bill was a devout Christian all his life. Not only did he attend church twice a week, he actively spread the word as often as he could, went on mission trips, and had dedicated his life to serving Christ. In return, he had been richly blessed. He had a wonderful wife, a fantastic job that paid very well and that he loved, and successful Christian children.

One day, a storm came along and and the waters began to threaten Bill's house. The National Guard came and told Bill to get out. Bill put his wife in their trucks, but wanted to stay behind to take care of the house. "The Lord will protect me," he told the Guardsmen. They drove off through the water, shaking their heads.

Next day, the water was covering the first floor of Bill's house. The fire department showed up in a boat to rescue him. Again, Bill refused, saying "the Lord will protect me." The firemen boated away, worried, but too busy to spend to long on one man.

The next day, the water was covering Bill's house, only the roof showing. The Sheriff Department came with a helicopter to rescue him. Again, Bill refused, saying "The Lord will protect me." The Sheriff tried to order him into the helicopter, but finally flew away to rescue others.

Bill drowned.

He arrived in Heaven, and asked the Lord: "Lord, I have a question. All my life I believed in you, and worked hard for you. And you blessed me beyond my wildest dreams, for which I most humbly thank you. But at the end, when I needed you most, you let me drown. Why is that?"

The Lord replied, "Bill, I don't know what you want from me. I sent you the National Guard with trucks, the Fire Department with boats, and the Sheriff's with a helicopter!"

Moral being, of course: Faith is vital, but we've also got to make use of the blessings and opportunities the Lord provides. He's provided us the opportunities to lay aside some modest supplies, and to add to them. If we fail to take advantage of those opportunities, whose fault is that?

[jeremy]

I was told as a young lad to have faith in the lord because miracles do happen, but keep your powder dry just in case it takes a while for your prayers to get there.

[slackerisme]

My mom used to always say " The Lord helps those who help themselves". I guess that has always stuck with me.