Mark 6, Luke 22 and Joseph’s seven years of grain. Faith and preparation were never at war.
By Emmanuel Iroko · Oct 31, 2026A lot of ministry leaders wrestle with this question: if God is our provider, why should we worry about saving for the future?
Because of that, many churches end up living in what I call “Mark 6 mode.” We tell ourselves, “We’ll just trust God for next year,” and leave it at that.
In Mark 6, Jesus sends the disciples out with no money and no backup plan, and they don’t lack a thing. But right before His crucifixion, He turns to those same disciples and says, “Now, if you have a money bag, take it” (Luke 22:36).
What changed? Did Jesus stop believing in miracles? Not at all. He was showing them that their confidence belongs in the One who sent them, not in what they carry. He was also showing them that faith and preparation aren’t at war with each other.
God warned Joseph that a famine was coming, so Joseph spent seven years storing grain. That wasn’t a lack of faith. It was wisdom. The miracle wasn’t food falling from the sky during the famine. The miracle was that God provided the resources years before the crisis hit.
Sometimes God’s provision arrives right on time. Sometimes it arrives years ahead of time.
What if God is trying to fund your church’s tomorrow through what He’s putting in your hands today?
Setting aside capital isn’t the opposite of trusting God. Trusting the bank account instead of God is. Store faithfully, give generously, and never confuse the provision with the Provider.
Prepare wisely. Think permanence.
Model your own giving, then book a 30-minute session to set up a policy.