Barren Winters

I was meditating on the Word this morning and reading in Proverbs when I came across this verse. I am sure many preachers and pastors of days before have taught on this scripture. Most likely it's not a popular subject to teach on but it jumped at me and caused me to think more and more. In Proverbs 10:5 it says, "He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely, {But} he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully." So often, we find ourselves in the midst of a financial crisis and find ourselves becoming a chicken little of society when we find out that our tire is flat or an unexpected tax bill has come in the mail. We scream and wonder "why God why?" What is the reasoning behind the pain? I remember in the first years that Sara and I were married that we would have what I call hiccups in our finances. One day it was the transmission in my car and I wasn't working at the time. We hadn't gathered in the summer to prepare for the winter. When I say we, I mean I but the point being we weren't ready for the "winter." The winter is a cold, barren time in your life. It can be during a wilderness time when you feel out in the cold or it can be a time of lack. We weren't ready and it almost caused a knee jerk reaction. Now, we are pretty ready. How? We gathered in the summer. Are we where we should be? I know we can do even better. But God will continue to open those doors for us if we are faithful in His word (Deut 28). I have been studying a little bit on the life of King Solomon, who was considered one of the wisest men in the world. Just by looking at his life, I got a glimpse of his view on finances. He spoke on how it is stupid to co-sign on a loan, what kind of bondage being in debt is, and how to do business. In 2 Samuel, Solomon rose to power and in that, he asked God for wisdom. God not only gave him wisdom but gave him above and beyond that. I was stupefied to see how much Solomon did for the kingdom of God at such a young age and yet we seem to stand by and watch those that are suffering walk by. I hear it already in emails and in phone calls, "but I just don't have it." We have this woe is me mentality at times and complain because we don't have the finances. I used to say that too and I never understood why until I asked God. Imagine that! I asked God for help. In James 1:5, it says for those who are "deficient" in wisdom to ask. Here is the neat thing, God doesn't hold it against you. I think that is the coolest thing because we aren't like that. We will withhold information just because someone didn't say hello to us at church. Seriously! But God gives it to us with our faith and so ask Him to give you wisdom on being a better steward of your finances. I heard Dave Ramsey, a financial talk show host, once say "If you were the accountant for a company and that company was U Inc. Would you fire you?" You are an accountant of God's money that He entrusts you with daily. Now you have the knowledge, what are you going to do with it? If we don't plant the seeds in the spring, gather in the summer and fall, it is then that we will be barren in the winter.