As our economy becomes more and more unstable, a lot of people are purchasing gold and silver and stocking up on food, guns, and emergency supplies. I have found that a lot of people stockpile out of fear of not having food should a large crisis arise. To me such motivation is completely unbiblical. It is arrogant to assume that we can in some way have control over our circumstances by preparing ourselves physically. This world is not our home, and to act like it is displays a lack of trust in the Lord’s care. Also, it is very prideful to assume that we can control the future, we do not know that gold and silver will be of value should food be scarce. It is very much inedible. Food can get stolen easily and who is to say that the government won’t give food rations and confiscate personal property and food should such a crisis arise?
Matthew 6:19-21
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
As a Christian, I would also have a hard time stockpiling and having plenty to eat, while my neighbors starved, yet my space and budget is insufficient to provide for the whole neighborhood for an extended period of time. So, it is a very difficult place to be in. Obviously, my number one priority should be to care for the family the Lord has entrusted me to care for, but I should never deny anyone food, shelter, or clothing should they ask for it.
Proverbs 3:27
“Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.”
What I find most troubling is that some Christians are even purchasing guns in order to defend their stockpiles and property. I would expect such behavior from those who do not know the Lord and consider life on earth very dear, but as a Christian is it right for us to shoot another person to defend our food? Is a life worth food? Is my life of more importance than that thief who comes in my door? Is it my place to decide who should live and who should die? If I die, my eternity is secure, but should I feel the liberty to take another person's life in self defense only tells me that I believe my life is more important than theirs and it is very likely that person is unsaved and will spend eternity in hell. Personally, that is something I could not live with.
I Peter 2:11-17
Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God. Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.
The most common argument I hear in favor of creating a stockpile is that it is biblically wise and when we see evil days approaching, we should prepare. A lot of Christians strive to prepare physically, which may not be incorrect, but I wonder if we consider spiritual preparation is far more important. We should be using these days to learn how we can minister to others who will be in need physically and spiritually. We should be making friends of our neighbors and seeking to evangelize them. We should be studying and memorizing the Scriptures to strengthen our own hearts in difficult times. Above all, we should be committing ourselves in prayer for the souls of men. The Lord has often used desperate times to draw men to himself, but prayer has always led the way. Has not the Lord promised to provide for us? We have become so accustomed to having our needs met, that it makes Christians very insecure and uncomfortable to have to rely on the Lord for a simple thing like food. Ironically, we find it easier to trust Him for forgiving our sins and saving our souls, than providing for our simplest everyday needs.
I simply desire to challenge myself in the upcoming months to consider my motivations for what I do. The thought of my little girl going hungry breaks my heart, but it should not exceed the painful thought of her living a life without Christ. As a housewife, I should be wise in seeing to the needs of my family. Before the supermarket existed, women canned and put up food in preparation for the winter. It would have been foolish not to anything. I consider it my responsibility as the one who does the marketing in our home, to purchase adequate amounts of nutritious food for those in my care. I would like to add to my pantry in case of a job loss, extended illness, or crisis, however, my motivation should not be out of fear or self preservation, but merely how I can best equip my family for service and ministry to others. I may not be able to store enough food for our neighbors, but I will not deny them food should they knock on my door. Perhaps a stockpile of Bibles would not be a bad idea… In any case, a Christian’s way of life should be marked by love and service for others. Our life is temporary, our home is heaven. Our purpose is to glorify God by loving and serving others.
Mt. 25:31-46
“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. “All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.
“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. ‘For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? ‘And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? ‘When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ “The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’
“Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ “Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ “Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ “These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Mt. 6:33
"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
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