Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Prepare first then build

Proverbs 24:27 (English Standard Version)

"Prepare your work outside;
    get everything ready for yourself in the field,
    and after that build your house."

It's tempting to want to push forward on the things we feel we must have, but dangerous to do so when we lack the resources at the present time to acquire or build something. Many in our current economy have found this out the hard way. The Proverbs are called wisdom literature for a reason!

Matthew Henry's Commentary has the following comments on this:
1. We must prefer necessities before conveniences
2. We must not think of building until we have can afford it. "Many have ruined their estates and families by laying out money on that which brings nothing in, beginning to build when they were not able to finish.
3. When we have any great design in mind it is wisdom to consider the cost carefully, and make the necessary preparations before our hands start the work, so that when it is begun, we may not sit idle for lack of resources.

For another more modern and more detailed consideration of the question - how much is enough to have in reserve for a church, see this article on Liquidity from XPastor.org.

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