I know this blog post is different than most of my posts here on The Perpetual Homesteader, but I wanted to get a few things off my chest that I hope will benefit you.

As a gardener and having been a Christian most of my life, I have found certain people unnerving. There are a couple of things that I noticed about people since I have been writing and selling my books and produce at the farmers’ market.

What Some People Say

The first thing was that there are times that people look at the fact that I am selling books and say that there is only one book that they read and that is the Bible. At first, I felt they were trying to make me feel guilty, but then I realized that their attitude has more to do with them than it does with me. I probably have read the Bible more times than they have, and perhaps the only Bible they read is what the pastor reads out in church. It could also be that they are afraid to read anything that might make them question their faith. Perhaps they just have difficulty reading and don’t want to admit it.

In addition, I am on several prepping groups on Facebook and occasionally, there is someone who presents the idea that they don’t have to prep for bad times because they “are trusting God to take care of them” or that they will be “raptured out” so why would they need to prep for the apocalypse.

What Does the Bible Say?

I won’t say anything against the idea of being “raptured out”, because I could write a convincing article myself about the possibility of Christians not having to face the wrath of God, however, is that a good reason for not prepping for a major disaster in the future?

I don’t think so. First of all, if the past is any reflection of the future, there are thousands of examples in history where if a person wasn’t prepared for a famine or whatever, they died. No matter their religious affiliation, if they didn’t have food, God didn’t save them. They died of starvation.

If we’re Christian or Jewish, we should all know the story of Joseph, the son of Israel (Jacob) whose brothers sold him into slavery. Genesis chapters 37-50  and who ended up saving their lives when there was a famine in the known world for 7 years.

If you notice, there’s a part of the story here that few people notice. After the Israelites were rescued by Pharaoh from certain death, they became slaves to the system that Pharaoh had set up.

At first, it wasn’t too bad, but over time, the system became unbearable.

We too may be finding that we are in a system of debt that is enslaving us and that we need to free ourselves from. By returning to our calling of tending the garden, we are better able to be freed from this system.

God’s Past Interventions

I can hear right now where someone is going to point out the fact that God sent manna from Heaven to the Israelites for forty years while they wandered in the desert. They might even point out how Hanukkah began because the Menorah stayed lit for eight days during a particularly bad time in Jewish history as well.

Also, if they know American history, they might point out that the Separatist Pilgrims almost starved during their second winter but were saved when a ship from Jamestown brought a shipload of food to them.

Yes, the Lord provided for them and helped them survive, but there’s more to this PIlgrim story. They realized that they needed to change the way that they produced food. They realized that instead of having a single farm, they each needed to have their own garden areas. After they did that, they learned that they had more than enough to provide for themselves and enough to pay back what they owed for their passage across the ocean.

I can hear you now. Nice history lesson, Donna, but that still doesn’t tell us whether prepping is Biblical or not.

So, let’s look at what the Bible said to others in the Bible.

First, there’s Adam. God told Adam to till the ground even before the fall. By planting a seed and tending the garden, Adam was putting up food for the future.

Here’s another verse from Proverbs

“Go to the ant, O sluggard,” he says. “Consider her ways, and be wise!” (Proverbs 6:6 ESV).

To be a sluggard is to be “a habitually lazy person.” Sluggardly character is like a slothful character, which is also often referenced in Scripture and means a “disinclination to action or labor; spiritual apathy and inactivity.”

Those who do not work hard are not viewed neutrally: “Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys” (Proverbs 18:9 ESV). We are warned: “Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.”

The Bible is clear that those who seek to honor God will be committed to meaningful action. “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only,” says James. And Paul agrees, exhorting believers: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23 ESV) and “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10 ESV).

It has only been since the 1850s that people have been purchasing more of their food from a grocery store. Before that, most of the food was purchased or traded with those who lived nearby who had something that another person wanted. Here in the US, often the purchasing power came in the form of furs that traders took in exchange for their goods. It has only been since the 1970s that rural Americans began depending more on grocery stores and less on their ability to grow fruits and vegetables themselves.

Whether we purchase what we need or learn the skills to grow our own, the Bible never does tell us not to provide for the future.

Well, you say, yes it does. What about this passage in Luke 12:16-21?

And he (Jesus) told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”‘ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

Before the verses stated above, Jesus had been in the middle of teaching when a man shouted, “Teacher! Tell my brother to divide our father’s inheritance with me” (v.13).

The first response from Jesus was to explain that wasn’t His job. “Who made me judge in this case?” He then proceeded to give a warning: “Beware. Guard against every kind of greed. Life isn’t measured by how much you own.”

What is Jesus really saying here? Is saying that you shouldn’t store your extra grain for the future or is he saying something else?

No, what he’s saying is don’t be greedy and be willing to share what you have with those in need.

Be a Giver

Our best bet is to do as Jesus says in Matthew 6:19-21.

19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

We’re not told to avoid saving up for the future, but we are told that when we do save up for the future, we need to do it in a way that helps us and others.

Here are a couple of examples from my own life. My chickens sometimes give me extra eggs. I don’t sell them anymore. I give them away. In addition, I do what I can to teach people what I know. If something bad happens, I’ll share even more, but I will expect others to do what they can as well. It is part of our God-imparted nature to work as long as possible, so I teach others gardening, foraging, animal husbandry, and food storage.

It really all comes down to motive. Are we storing up food and supplies because we are greedy? Are we doing it out of fear? Or are we putting back food and supplies because God told us to do so?

I hope this has helped someone. If so, or if you have any questions, please comment in the comment section below.

If you’re interested in putting in a vegetable garden this year, I have written several books that can help you get started. All are available on Amazon.

Simply Vegetable Gardening

The Survival Garden

The Four Seasons Vegetable Garden

Help From Kelp

Using Diatomaceous Earth Around the House and Yard

Purchase Gourmet Weeds Today