I was in scouting when I was a kid, maybe through the six grade. I don’t remember much about scouting, but I do remember the motto: “Be Prepared”.
That very much sums up my personality. I like to be prepared. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that I like to prepare for a task almost as much as I like doing the task.
I think preparation is a good thing. Scripture tells us to be prepared to give an answer for the hope that we have. It says we ought to prepare here for a life in eternity. We are not to live life unprepared. But I think we can sometimes be too prepared. Sometimes we can prepare in ways that seem wise to us, but that are unnecessary according to Him.
One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. “Take nothing for your journey,” he instructed them. “Don’t take a walking stick, a traveler’s bag, food, money, or even a change of clothes. – Luke 9:1-3.
Did Jesus send out His disciples unprepared? I don’t think so. He gave them all they needed to be successful. He gave them the power they needed. He gave them the authority they needed. He gave them the commission they needed. Having said that, I doubt that they felt prepared to go. If the disciples had waited until they felt “prepared”, my guess is they never would have gone. The amazing thing is that they went…and they were successful!
What about us? How many of us do not “go” because we do not feel “prepared” to go? How often are we convinced that success depends on our preparedness, rather than God’s provision? How often do we prepare adequately in the physical world while ignoring the spiritual one? How often do we make our plans but fail to even seek God’s suggestion on what we should do?
I can only answer for myself, but I would say often. My prayer is that I would be prepared, but not to the extent my success no longer depends on God.
