Stockpiling

The panic buying we have seen in the last few weeks demonstrates both our wisdom and our folly as human beings. If we know that tough times are coming it makes sense to be prepared. It is wise to fill the cupboards with food that will carry you through the shortages. But the fact we are ‘wise’ in this respect only serves to highlight our folly.

The Bible warns us that a day of judgment is coming which will have eternal consequences. If it is wise to prepare for a few weeks of food shortages how much more important is it to prepare for death and eternity? Yet very few people who are fighting over toilet rolls would fight to get hold of a Bible. Very few of the people queuing to get into the supermarket are ever seen queuing to get into church. This is our folly: when it comes to eternal, spiritual realities, we seem unable to apply the simple day to day principles that govern the rest of our lives.

Jesus told a story:

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.”

Are you worldly wise but spiritually foolish? It is sobering to think that some people will succumb to this virus leaving cupboards at home full of stockpiled supplies, which they never had opportunity to open or eat - just like the man in Jesus parable.

Please be wise and stay safe physically safe because your life is so important. But please take care to prepare for what happens after this life because your eternal soul is so much more important. In the Old Testament God challenged people along these same lines whilst inviting them to come to Him and receive as a gift the eternal, spiritual ‘food’ which we all need.

“Come, all you who are thirsty,

    come to the waters;

and you who have no money,

    come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

    without money and without cost.

2 

Why spend money on what is not bread,

    and your labor on what does not satisfy?

Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,

    and you will delight in the richest of fare.

This  invitation still stands and God has promised to receive all who call out to Jesus to save them. Have you done that yet?