Is it bad to have a month’s worth of food and water set aside, just in case?
Question:
Since I have joined the Lord's church I feel I can't be myself around my brothers and sisters. I am a bit of a geek and for years have educated myself on eating healthy, striving to eat organic foods only, avoiding things that I know are harmful to the body, preparing for an economical or natural disaster, (storing food and water but not much, just like a month's worth). Since my brothers and sisters have come to know this about me, they think I live in fear and I'm not trusting the Lord to take care of me and my family, but I see it as being aware, educated, and prepared. My attitude is very happy-go-lucky, I'm always smiling, and I feel very secure knowing what I do know. They made a Bible study for my family and me and used verses about only trusting in the Lord from Proverbs because, in the end, God has the last say so. I understand that, but I think Proverbs is talking about judgment and where our souls go and that no matter how well we try and take care of ourselves while we are alive, God is going to ultimately judge us in the end. I told them that this is what I think these verses mean. They don't know what to say to me, like if I'm wrong or not. The verses they have used are Proverbs 28:26; 21:30-31; 19:21; 16:1,9,20,33; 14:12, 3:5-8 to prove I should not worry about anything. I feel like I just need to not talk about anything that concerns me or how to improve their health, so I will appear to be more like they are which kind of makes me sad. I don't live in fear, and I put all my hope and trust in God. I know His plan and judgment are real but is it really so wrong to be informed or want to be informed and take care of yourself and be safe?
Thank you so much for any insight you may have because this really bums me out. God bless.
Answer:
I won't worry about it. People have a variety of ideas and what you desire isn't harmful to yourself or your family. There is nothing wrong with being prepared. See: Planning for Uncertainties. Many of the verses they mention don't say that planning is wrong, only that plans alone aren't going to be enough. It is easy to think that because you have emergency plans that you are safe from all harm. We all have to realize that we do the best we can and the rest is up to God.
On the other side of the coin, it is just as bad to make no preparations when you can and then think that God is always going to rescue you. That is a form of putting God to the test and ignores the lesson of the ant in Proverbs 6:6-11.
Most people do prepare to some extent. Having emergency funds, insurance, etc. are all forms of pre-planning. If everyone doesn't go to the extent that you feel is necessary, then that is their choice. "For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: "As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." So then each of us shall give account of himself to God" (Romans 14:7-12.)
