The Scout Code

Be prepared. That’s the tag line for scouting. To add context, as I type this I am wearing a cape. Why am I wearing a cape you may ask? Why are you wearing shoes, or pants or any clothes for that matter?

Picture yourself turning up at school or work stark naked. You arrive, look around at what others are wearing, get a clear idea for your mood today and decide that clothes would be a good choice for this circumstance. You may even think of the exact item from your wardrobe that would be the perfect reflection of how you feel today. The simple truth right now though, is that you are naked – and you haven’t got any clothes to wear. You really should have prepared better for this moment. Choosing to wear clothes today was a “before you left the house” type decision.

Matthew 25:1-13 is a parable about some young women waiting for the arrival of a bridegroom. Half had extra oil for their lamps, so when if the bridegroom was late, their lamps did not run out. He was late, the other half of the girls were busy fetching oil when he arrived and were too late to join the feast.

Only those who were fully prepared for the situation got into the feast.

Verses 14 - 30 of the same chapter has a similar but different story. Three division managers are given extra budget to work with in the absence of the general manager. Each knew the GM well, knowing they needed to protect his investment. They all knew the he would return, and probably soon. They also knew his expectations were high, and methods to be ruthless and non-orthodox.

The two to receive the praise of their boss invested and worked the funds they had been allotted, returning 200% of what they were given. The third man stashed the cash because he knew the market was volatile and could go any direction, he would wait for a better time to invest! His fear meant he never left the starting block.

He did not prepare himself for the GM’s return, as some of the young women didn’t bring enough oil for their lamps.

One of our preparations in life is tithing. Another is offerings and generosity. They will each prepare you;
In your heart, to have capacity and depth of character.
In your relationship with God, to trust and see Him come through - even when the market is volatile or collapsing.
In your expectation, you cannot out-give the Lord. You can only give so much into heaven before it pours back to you.

This tithe or offering you give today is putting clothes on your back before you get to work, it is putting a holding deposit on your house before you even know where it is, or even that your going to buy one. You are preparing yourself for the time when you need to call on heaven, on our Father – and need real expectation of His action. Preparing for a time when you need depth and courage.

Naked is easier, but leaves us in the cold…