The Importance of Preparation

Main Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:3–5 (KJV)

In 2 Corinthians 9, the Apostle Paul addresses the believers at Corinth concerning a contribution they had previously promised to make for the saints in need. Paul had spoken highly of their willingness to give, but he understood that good intentions would accomplish very little if the promised gift was not ready when the brethren arrived. Therefore, he sent men ahead to ensure that everything was prepared beforehand. Paul wanted their generosity to be genuine, orderly, and voluntary rather than something hurriedly assembled under pressure.

What interests me about this passage is not simply the offering. It is the principle behind Paul's instruction. The Corinthians had already been made aware of what was expected. They had expressed their willingness to participate, and the responsibility was not new. Paul was reminding them that there is a difference between saying you're ready and actually being prepared. That same distinction exists in our spiritual lives today. We can talk about loving God, serving Him, and being prepared for His return, but our words mean very little when our actions demonstrate that we have neglected what He has instructed us to do.

Paul reinforces the importance of order in 1 Corinthians 14:40 when he writes, “Let all things be done decently and in order.” Although that passage concerns order within the worshiping congregation, it reminds us that God does not call His people to careless service. Whether we are preparing to minister, fulfill a responsibility, help someone in need, or carry out an assignment within the Church, we should approach that responsibility seriously. Too often, people wait until the last possible moment to do what they already knew needed to be done. Then, when the moment arrives, they find themselves rushing, making excuses, and expecting others to accommodate what their own lack of preparation has created.

But there is a greater preparation that every believer must consider, and that is our readiness to meet the Lord. Jesus addressed this directly in Matthew 25:1–13 through the parable of the ten virgins. All ten went forth to meet the bridegroom. All ten carried lamps, and all ten understood that the bridegroom was expected. Yet five were wise and five were foolish. The wise brought additional oil, while the foolish failed to make adequate provision. When the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. But at midnight, the cry came that the bridegroom was approaching, and suddenly the difference between preparation and carelessness became evident.

The foolish virgins asked the wise to share their oil because their lamps were going out. But the wise recognized that there would not be enough for everyone. While the foolish went away to purchase oil, the bridegroom arrived. Matthew 25:10 tells us, “And they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.” Those words should concern every person who claims to be waiting upon the Lord. They all expected the bridegroom, but only those who were prepared entered when he arrived. The foolish virgins did not fail because they had never heard that he was coming. They failed because they had not prepared themselves for his arrival.

Jesus concludes the parable in Matthew 25:13 by saying, “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” We cannot wait until the Lord returns to begin preparing ourselves to meet Him. There are things that must be addressed while we still have the opportunity. We must examine our relationship with God, our obedience to His Word, the condition of our hearts, and the way we are living before Him. Preparation requires more than attending church, knowing Scripture, or being familiar with religious traditions. It requires a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ and a willingness to live according to His instructions.

We find another serious warning in Revelation 22:11, where Scripture declares, “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” We must understand the significance of these words. This is not God encouraging people to remain in sin or suggesting that repentance is unnecessary. It is a solemn warning concerning the finality of judgment and the condition in which people will be found when the opportunity for repentance has passed. The following verse declares, “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”

There will come a time when the opportunity to change our spiritual condition will no longer be available. That is why preparation cannot be treated as something we will eventually get around to doing. Some people are waiting until they become older to surrender their lives to Christ. Others believe they have plenty of time to correct the things they know are wrong. Some continue carrying bitterness, unforgiveness, jealousy, dishonesty, and disobedience while convincing themselves that they will deal with those matters later. But none of us has been promised tomorrow, and none of us knows when our earthly journey will end.

Hebrews 9:27 reminds us, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” We make preparations for our estates, our families, and the responsibilities that will remain after we are gone, and there is wisdom in doing those things. But what preparation have we made for eternity? What good will it do to leave everything in order on earth while neglecting the condition of our souls? Jesus asked in Mark 8:36, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”

We must also remember that preparation is not simply about avoiding judgment. It is about becoming the people God has called us to be while we are still here. In 2 Timothy 2:21, Paul teaches that a person who purges himself from dishonorable things will become “a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.” We cannot continually neglect prayer, refuse correction, disregard Scripture, and then expect to be spiritually prepared whenever an assignment presents itself. Preparation requires discipline, spiritual growth, and a willingness to be corrected by the Word of God.

Consider Noah. Hebrews 11:7 tells us that Noah, “being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house.” Noah did not wait until the rain began falling to start building. He responded to God's warning before there was visible evidence of what was coming. Genesis 6 records that Noah did according to all that God commanded him. His preparation was an expression of faith and obedience. Had he waited until the floodwaters appeared, the opportunity to prepare would have been lost. There is a difference between hearing God's warning and responding to it.

We also see the importance of preparation in the life of Joseph. In Genesis 41, God revealed through Pharaoh's dreams that Egypt would experience seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine. Joseph understood that the years of plenty were not simply an opportunity to enjoy prosperity. They were an opportunity to prepare for the hardship that was coming. He advised Pharaoh to appoint officers to gather and store food during the abundant years, and when famine eventually came, Egypt had provisions available. Joseph's wisdom reminds us that preparation sometimes requires making difficult decisions today because of responsibilities we may face tomorrow.

Noah prepared because he believed what God had spoken. Joseph prepared because he understood what God had revealed. The wise virgins prepared because they recognized the importance of being ready when the bridegroom arrived. Paul instructed the Corinthians to prepare their gift because the responsibility had already been established. Although these situations were different, they all remind us that the time to prepare is before the moment of accountability arrives.

There is also a responsibility upon the Church to help prepare others. Ephesians 4:11–12 explains that Christ gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” Spiritual leadership is not simply about delivering a message that makes people feel good. It includes teaching, correction, encouragement, and helping believers mature in their walk with God. Second Timothy 4:2 instructs ministers to “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” There are times when the Word must challenge us because God loves us enough to warn us before the consequences of disobedience become unavoidable.

And we must not mistake God's patience for His approval of everything we do. Second Peter 3:9 reminds us that the Lord is longsuffering, “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” The time God gives us is an expression of His mercy, not an invitation to continue disregarding His Word. Every day we awaken is another opportunity to examine ourselves, correct what needs correcting, forgive where forgiveness is required, and draw closer to the Lord. But we should never become so comfortable with God's patience that we forget His promises concerning judgment and the return of Christ.

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 6:2, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” Notice that he does not say tomorrow, next year, or when circumstances become more convenient. He says now. We cannot control how much time remains in our lives, but we can respond to the Word of God while the opportunity is before us. We can stop postponing what we know the Lord has already instructed us to do. We can begin living with the understanding that our relationship with Christ deserves greater attention than the temporary matters that consume so much of our time.

Conclusion

As we consider the importance of preparation, we must remember that God has never left His people without instruction or warning. Noah was warned before the flood, Joseph was given wisdom before the famine, and the ten virgins knew the bridegroom was coming. Paul instructed the Corinthians to prepare their promised gift before the brethren arrived. In each account, the responsibility was made known before the appointed time, and those who responded appropriately were prepared when the moment arrived.

Today, we have the testimony of Scripture reminding us that Jesus Christ will return and that every one of us must give account before God. Revelation 22:12 declares, “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me.” We do not know when that day will come, but we have been told enough to understand that preparation is necessary. There is no wisdom in waiting until the last moment to correct what we already know is wrong. There is no benefit in postponing repentance, neglecting our spiritual responsibilities, or assuming that tomorrow will provide another opportunity.

As believers, we should live prepared, not frightened by the coming of Christ, but confident in the salvation He has provided and faithful to the responsibilities He has entrusted to us. Our readiness is not established by our own perfection, but through faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, and a life that demonstrates our commitment to Him.

The time to prepare for the Lord's coming is not when He arrives. It is now, while His grace is extended, His Word is being proclaimed, and the opportunity to respond remains.

“Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” — Matthew 24:44