The prepared life is a high calling. It’s not usually looked at like that, but it is. Most preppers look beyond themselves and see a need that they take seriously. This calling helps the prepper stay focused, even when the prepared life loses its appeal and is challenging.
Calling Compared
Many Christian preppers can easily compare the calling to a prepared life with the calling of the Prophet Elisha. But to get there, we need to talk about Elijah.
Elijah was a great Prophet of God. But after being greatly used by God, he had a little pity party and went into a depression that had him along way from home, waiting for God on a mountainside. God gave Elijah some instructions, one being to anoint a replacement, Elisha.
When Elijah approaches Elisha, he was plowing his field with 12 oxen. Elijah places his mantel (robe) on him and turns around. Of course, this symbolized that Elijah was calling Elisha to be his disciple. Elisha, coming out of his shock, runs to Elijah and asks to say goodbye to his family.
19 So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, while he was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. And Elijah passed over to him and threw his mantle on him. 20 He left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” 21 So he returned from following him, and took the pair of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the implements of the oxen, and gave it to the people and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah and ministered to him.
1 Kings 19:19-21 NASB
Calling for Good
Elisha goes back, kills his oxen, uses the plowing implements to build a fire and throws a party. This doesn’t seem like a big deal to people who read the story, but Elisha was saying that he was leaving it all behind to follow the call of God for his life. He was telling everyone that this was a permanent thing.
This is very similar to the prepared life because once someone truly sees and understands the need to prepare, they don’t turn back. It’s for good!
The System is Fragile
Preppers live the prepared life because they see how fragile our world is. It’s a calling to know this and not just live in fear, but choose to do something about it. Preppers have decided that they are not going to leave it up to someone else to come to their aid, they are going to take responsibility and do it themselves. Of course, Christian Preppers approach everything with faith and trust in the Lord first. But even Noah had to prepare for his 40 day exotic cruise adventure.
21 As for you, take for yourself some of all food which is edible, and gather it to yourself; and it shall be for food for you and for them.” 22 Thus Noah did; according to all that God had commanded him, so he did.
Genesis 6:21-22 NASB
Me, Myself and More People
The Prepared Life is a high calling because when it really hits the fan, most people realize that they are preparing for more than just themselves and in most cases, extended family and friends. Yes, many preppers are very adamant that they will turn people away when the hammer drops. But do you really think your non-prepping spouse or kids are going to let you turn away Grandma or Aunt Jill out to the zombies? Come on!
Most preppers realize that they need to put aside extra for the unprepared. It kind of sucks because people should be more responsible, but that is how it is, the prepared life. 1 Timothy 5:8 NASB says, “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” I’m sure many Christian Preppers want to “lay some hands” on the Apostle Paul for that one! 😉
It’s About Being Responsible
Continuing the above thought, the Prepared Life is a high calling because Preppers forgo the typical American lifestyle to spend their money more responsibly on preps. While preppers are putting away for a rainy day, most Americans, including the family members who will show up on our doorsteps, are having a grand time taking trips, buying new vehicles, flashing the newest and the greatest.
This is the kind of behavior that causes us to want to tell our “loved ones” to take a hike when the cloud goes up, but we now how that really is going to go down. If you’re not sure, read the above paragraphs again and go ask your spouse and kids if they could turn away granny in a time of need. And then get ready for the fallout.
There is Some Good News Though
This COVID mess has caused the non-prepared to understand that the prepared life isn’t a bad idea after all. My non-prepper friends that I warned back in March, sent me text and calls of appreciation because they beat the frenzied free-for-all’s at the grocery stores. I have had others, like in the PW Exclusive Email Group and from the podcast, thank me for talking about toilet paper so much. LOL
Another thing that came up in one of the PW Exclusive Email Group’s Online Meetup, is that canning supplies are almost non-existent out there. This would include canners. I tend to believe, that although people are not calling themselves “preppers,” more and more are starting to do just that. Now if they would just start reading the articles on Prepper Website!
Conclusion
We don’t always think about it, but living the prepared life is a high calling. Preppers do it because they love others and want to live free. Did you just hear Mel Gibson yelling “freedom” there? I did!
If you’re interested, my devotional on Elisha’s calling is down below.
Peace,
Todd
Todd,
You’re right that it will not be so easy to turn everyone away. Not that anyone can take in any and all. Random strangers would be a judgement call, but certainly family and friends would be very tough to send packing with a smug ‘I told you so’.
Storing more rice and beans than necessary for your current household is a way to have ‘extra’ for late-comers. They won’t be eating ritzy but they will be eating instead of starving.
One nice thing about over-stocking food is that if no one shows up at your door, it is still something you can use yourself.
Seems like having a plan for what to do with extra people would be good. Have jobs/tasks lined up that new people can be plugged into. The new people can understand right off the bat that there is work to do — it won’t be a vacation with room service. Just because they’re family doesn’t mean they don’t have to work. Grandma can help prepare meals or watch the little kids while 20-something mom or dad go cut wood. A pre-teen can haul water or do laundry in a bucket, etc.
Preppers like to plan. We know the ill-prepared will show up. Why not plan for it?
Take care,
— Mic