Situations that may arise come in various forms. They could include financial opportunities. These may look like a bad turn of events, but they could be an opportunity for something else to work out instead. Situations that arise could include emergencies. They could include the return of Jesus Christ. It is important to be ready for both expected and unexpected events.
Think of the virtuous woman who knew how to make wise investment of her time and money. “15She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. 16She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. 17She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. 18She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. 19She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. 20She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. 21She is not afraid of the snow for her household….” (Proverbs 31:15-21a). We often get so caught up in all the things the virtuous woman is doing, that we miss the principles set forth here –
Wise use of time
Consideration and wise investment
Care for body and health
Confident that she has a good product
Diligent
Considerate of others
Prepares ahead for harder times
Another example of someone who was prepared for various situations of life is Abigail, Nabal’s wife. While David was hiding from Saul in the wilderness, he and his men took good care of Nabal’s shepherds and helped protect them. When Nabal came to shear sheep, David sent ten of his men to ask for some food to sustain them. Nabal, however, refused and even made false accusations against David. David became very angry and would have sent men to kill Nabal and those that were with him.
When Abigail, Nabal’s wife, heard what had happened and perceived the danger they were all in, she hurried and gathered food to take to David. We can see from the passage that she already had this food prepared and things were already set aside for emergency. Even though she and Nabal were wealthy, Abigail did not waste things, and she prepared for emergencies that would come up and for harder times. “18Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses. 19And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal… 23And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, 24And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be : and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid. 25Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send. 26Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the LORD hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal. 27And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord. 28I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days.”
Not only did Abigail have much food already ready and prepared, she also humbled herself before David and took action right away to save herself, all the servants, her husband Nabal, and all that they had. Whether we are rich or poor, we need to make as ready as we can and be prepared for things that may happen in the future. Of course, we have no control over many things, and we must depend on God to take care of us. However, it is still very important to look ahead and prepare and be ready.
We must also be ready for the most important event of all – the return of Jesus Christ. Matthew 24:44 says, “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Jesus is looking for his servants to be faithful and wise. Then we can anticipate His coming with joy. “21Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” (Romans 8:21-23) If we prepare faithfully and wisely for the time when we will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty which awaits us, when our body is redeemed and we go to be with Christ, we can have confidence and anticipate the reward from our Savior when we stand before Him. If we are faithful stewards of Him while we are here on earth, we can look forward to hearing Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (See Matthew 25:23)