Proverbs 16:9 – Committing Our Plans to the Lord
“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”
Proverbs 21:5 – Diligence Leads to Prosperity
“The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.”
Matthew 6:33 – Seeking God’s Kingdom First
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Psalm 127:1 – Dependence on God
“Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.”
Proverbs 16:3 – Committing Our Work to God
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”
Proverbs 22:3 – Sensible Planning for Protection
“The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.”
Proverbs 24:27 – Planning Ahead
“Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready; after that, build your house.”
1 Corinthians 16:2 – Regular Financial Planning
“On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.”
Also Read: 40 Bible Verses About Being Responsible
2 Chronicles 31:21 – Steadfast in Service
“In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered.”
Matthew 25:10 – Preparedness for the Coming of the Lord
“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.”
1 Peter 5:8 – Being Watchful
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
Matthew 24:42 – Always Prepared
“Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”
Proverbs 15:22 – Seeking Wise Counsel
“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers, they succeed.”
Proverbs 27:12 – Knowing the Future is in God’s Hands
“The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.”
Proverbs 16:1 – Man’s Plans vs. God’s Will
“To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.”
Matthew 24:44 – Be Ready for the Unexpected
“So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
Proverbs 16:33 – God’s Ultimate Sovereignty
“The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.”
Proverbs 19:21 – Trusting God’s Purpose
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
James 4:13-15 – Acknowledging God’s Control
“Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.'”
Proverbs 6:6-8 – Learning from the Ant
“Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.”
Proverbs 14:23 – Hard Work and Profit
“All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.”
Proverbs 15:19 – The Way of the Diligent
“The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.”
Proverbs 19:15 – Laziness Brings Poverty
“Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless go hungry.”
Proverbs 21:25 – The Lazy Man’s Desire
“The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work.”
Proverbs 24:30-34 – Lessons from the Field of the Lazy
“I went past the field of a sluggard, past the vineyard of someone who has no sense; thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins. I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.”
Proverbs 10:4 – Diligence Leads to Wealth
“Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.”
Proverbs 13:4 – The Lazy Man’s Craving
“A sluggard’s appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.”
Proverbs 20:4 – Laziness in Harvest Time
“Sluggards do not plow in season; so at harvest time they look but find nothing.”
Proverbs 12:24 – Hard Work and Leadership
“Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.”
Colossians 3:23 – Working for the Lord
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
Proverbs 24:27 – Planning Ahead
“Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready; after that, build your house.”
Proverbs 22:7 – Borrower Becomes the Lender’s Slave
“The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.”
Proverbs 27:23 – Know the State of Your Flocks
“Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds.”
1 Timothy 6:10 – The Love of Money
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
Proverbs 28:19 – Hard Work, Not Greed
“Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.”
Proverbs 14:23 – Hard Work and Profit
“All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.”
Proverbs 22:16 – Oppressing the Poor to Increase Wealth
“One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and one who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.”
Proverbs 13:11 – Wealth Gained Through Dishonesty
“Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.”
Proverbs 10:22 – Blessings of the Lord
“The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it.”
Proverbs 11:28 – Trusting Riches
“Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.”
Proverbs 23:5 – Riches Are Fleeting
“Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.”
Mark 10:25 – Hard for the Rich to Enter the Kingdom
“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
Proverbs 16:19 – Better to Be with Humble
“Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.”
Proverbs 28:6 – Better to Be Poor with Integrity
“Better the poor whose walk is blameless than the rich whose ways are perverse.”
Proverbs 15:27 – Dishonest Gain Brings Trouble
“The greedy bring ruin to their households, but the one who hates bribes will live.”
Luke 12:15 – Guard Against Greed
“Then he said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.'”
What Does the Bible Say About Preparation?
When we explore the Bible, we find that the idea of preparation is woven throughout its pages. The Scriptures emphasize that being ready and equipped in various aspects of life is crucial to achieving God’s will and navigating our spiritual journeys effectively.
Starting with the Old Testament, we find numerous instances where preparation is key. For example, Noah diligently builds the ark in obedience to God’s command, preparing for the coming flood (Genesis 6-7). His actions exemplify how proper preparation can save and protect us. Similarly, the Israelites were instructed to gather manna daily, except on the Sabbath, teaching us about routine preparation and reliance on God’s provisions (Exodus 16).
Preparation is also highlighted in the lives of key biblical figures. Joseph’s rise to power in Egypt, for instance, is marked by strategic planning and preparation. Through his interpretation of Pharaoh’s dreams, Joseph predicts seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. His prudent actions during the abundant years ensure that Egypt is well-prepared for the tough times ahead (Genesis 41).
In the New Testament, Jesus Himself talks about preparation. He tells the parable of the ten virgins, where five wise virgins prepare by taking extra oil for their lamps while the foolish ones do not. This parable underscores the importance of being spiritually prepared for the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 25:1-13).
Preparation isn’t limited to physical or logistical readiness, but extends to our spiritual lives as well. Paul, in his letters, frequently encourages believers to prepare themselves spiritually. He instructs us to put on the full armor of God so we can stand firm against the schemes of the devil (Ephesians 6:10-18). This vivid imagery underscores the need for spiritual readiness in our daily battles.
Moreover, we are called to prepare for the return of Jesus. The Bible encourages us to live in a state of constant readiness, keeping our hearts and minds alert for His second coming. In the book of Revelation, the church is admonished to prepare, so we are not caught off guard when He returns like a thief in the night (Revelation 16:15).
Preparation, therefore, permeates biblical teaching. Whether it’s preparing physically for potential hardships, making strategic plans for the future, or being spiritually vigilant, the Bible consistently underscores the importance of being prepared. As followers of Christ, we are encouraged to cultivate a lifestyle that reflects this preparedness, aligning our actions with God’s will and staying alert to His plans for us.