WISDOM OF PREPARATION (1)

“The PREPARATIONS of the HEART belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD” – Proverbs 16:1

GOD’S WORD is unambiguous about the WISDOM of PREPARATION: “The PREPARATIONS of the HEART belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD” (Pro.16:1). Preparation refers to the action or process of making something ready for use or service or of getting ready for some occasion, test, or duty. We prepare ourselves for diverse things in life: examinations, job interviews, social events, getting married, having children, or building a house. Beyond preparing for earthly events, it’s wise to prepare to meet God! Amos 4:12 says, “Prepare to meet your God”! This is the ultimate Purpose of Preparation. Are we ready to joyfully face God and spend eternity with Him?

According to the Strong Bible definition, the word “Prepare” means to be firm, stable, established, set up; to be ready, to make arrangement. That is, we need to stand firm in our faith in God, be stable in our walk with God and be ready to meet God. No one knows the day He will come, either through death or the rapture (Heb.10:27; Mt.24:36; 2Pet.3:10). All that we are busy preparing on earth will vanish; preparing to face God is what remains eternal (Mt.6:19-20). No mortal can escape meeting with God: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ” (2Cor.5:10a). Romans 14:12 says, “So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.”  

We may avoid many appointments here on earth, but encountering God one day is inevitable. We all have to face God, whether as believers or sinners, rich or poor, prepared or not. It’s wise to get prepared to meet God than to be caught by surprise. In the parable of the ten virgins, five were foolish, five wise. The wise took along extra oil while waiting for the bridegroom, and were ready when he came in the night. Just like those virgins, we must be fully prepared, watchful, alert, vigilant, ready for the return of Christ.

Besides the eternal, preparation pertains to all facets of life and it begins in the HEART (v.1). We are responsible under God to prepare and plan: “A MAN’S HEART PLAN his way, but the Lord directs his steps” (v.9). 2 Chronicles 12:14 says concerning king Rehoboam, David’s grandson: “And he did evil, because he DID NOT PREPARE HIS HEART to seek the Lord.” In the beginning of his reign at age 41, his heart was sensitive to the Lord (2 Chr.11:1-4). But, this only lasted for three of the 17 years of his reign (2 Chr.11:17). Not everyone predetermines to do evil or wakes up in the morning seeking to sin. Rather, they fall into sin because they have not prepared their hearts to seek the Lord.

The word “prepare” means “to establish, fix, or apply.” While hiding in a cave from Saul, David declared: “My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast…” (Psa.57:7a). Even when he had the opportunity to kill Saul and seize the throne which was rightfully his, he refrained from touching God’s anointed. If David had not already fixed his heart on what he would and would not do, he would have succumbed to the pressure of the moment. He had already prepared his heart not to take the kingdom by taking Saul’s life. David’s heart was fixed – prepared!

We can prepare our hearts by making strong commitments on what we will and will not do before we face a temptation. Of course, we cannot accomplish this on our own. It’s not a matter of sheer “will power.” God must be involved in preparing our hearts: “Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart…” (Psa.10:17a). As we trust in the Lord and depend on Him, we’ll find the strength to fix our heart. We must plan and prepare, but humbly acknowledge that God has the final answer. The most we should ever say is this: “…If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that” (Jam.4:13-15). “Man proposes, but God performs,” would be an apt version of today’s proverb.