There is a form of “tolerance” that is highly commendable and even self-sacrificial; there is another form of “tolerance” that is merely an excuse for moral apathy or even gross wickedness – and in such cases it is no virtue.
D.A. Carson

Should We Prepare For A Famine

Should We Prepare For A Famine

SHOULD WE PREPARE FOR A FAMINE?

All right, take Matthew chapter 6 in one hand and then get 2Corinthians chapter 12.

Look at Matthew 6:31. Now, there are two things in this. The first one is, “the just shall live by faith.” And, in line with living by faith from day to day, these words are spoken: “Therefore, take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”

Now, that’s a general principle. And that general principle is, “Don’t worry about tomorrow. You’ve got enough to handle right now, without worrying about tomorrow.” But, by the same token, notice verse 32: “For after all these things do the Gentiles seek.” Well, these words in Matthew 6 are spoken to Jews who haven’t found the kingdom of God. You people are saved people; you’re neither Jew nor Gentile. You have the kingdom of God, and you have Christ’s righteousness.

So, when you start taking stuff out of Matthew 5,6, and 7, and slap it down on the Christian doctrinally, you have to be careful. Now, the principle’s all right, but then look at this in the Pauline epistles.

Come to 2Corinthians 12. In 2Corinthians chapter 12, you’re dealing with a Pauline epistle. Here you have a church epistle written to saved people under grace. Look at the difference, verse 14: “Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not you’rs, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.”

Now, there’s a statement about parents laying up stuff for the children, so the children have something when the parents die. Now, let me show you another one in the Pauline epistles. Come across here to 1Timothy, and get 1Timothy chapter 5. This is talking about the care of widows. First Timothy 5:5: “Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.” Verse 8: “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” Now, of course, that’s talking about a man taking care of widows in his own home. But, it does speak about a man providing for those in his own house. So, you have to take a moderate view of that thing. I mean, trust God but keep your powder dry–faith and works.

I’d say this: I’d say, don’t get so worried about it you get panicky about it. Some of these anti-communists and right-wingers get so panicky about it, all they talk about is communism all day. That’s all they talk about. I appreciate Billy James Hargis’ ministry, and I appreciate Carl McIntyre’s ministry, and the John Birch Society, and American Opinion, and all that bit. I appreciate what those guys are doing; they’re putting out a lot of good information. But you can get hung up on that!

If Billy James Hargis ever led anybody to Christ, I don’t know who it was. If Carl McIntyre has ever led anybody to Christ personally, I don’t know who that was.

The Bible says, “Fear not them that are able to destroy the body, but fear him that is able to destroy both body and soul in hell; yea, I said, you fear him.” Communism is a threat; so is Catholicism, which you don’t hear much about. All you hear is, “Communism, Communism, Communism.”

I don’t know; I think I’d just as soon live in Russia as in Spain, if I had to. And so, when you get into those things, it’s good to prepare for them. But don’t get panicky about them.

My advice to people is, if you can buy some dehydrated food, get some–if you’ve got enough money left to buy it. I’d get some. I wouldn’t get a trunk full of it, though. I’d get enough for a couple of days or a couple of weeks for the family, and I’d get some guns and ammunition, and it wouldn’t hurt for some of you to carry water, if you had to carry it. And then, when the time comes, pray like mad, and run like mad, and fight like mad, and hope for the best.

The rule for the Christian is, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all to the glory of God, giving thanks to God the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.” If the thing broke out, I’d ask the Lord for help all the time, and lean on Him and trust Him all the time. But I’d also stock up and load up. You can’t be too careful.