PREPARATION FOR RETIREMENT

Under this introduction, we shall consider what the Scriptures say about preparation in life. We shall also consider one or two wise quotes on the topic. One key verse in this regard is Proverbs 16:1a, which is rendered from different versions of the Bible, to enable us to have enough insight into:

“The preparations of the heart belong to man” – NKJV (New King James Version)

“To man belongs the plans of the heart” – NIV (New International Version)

“We can make our own plans” – NLT (New Living Translation)

“People make plans in their minds” – NCV (New Century Version)

“The plan of the mind and orderly thinking belong to man” – TAB (The Amplified Bible)

“The preparations of the heart in man,” – KJV (King James Version)

“The designs of the heart are man's,” – BBE (Bible in Basic English)

“The plans of the heart belong to man,” – WEB (World English Bible)

Listen to the following quotes on the essence of making preparations:

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”

Abraham Lincoln

“Opportunity does not waste time with those who are unprepared.”

Idowu Koyenikan

“I believe luck is preparation meeting opportunity. If you hadn’t been prepared when the opportunity came along, you wouldn’t have been lucky.”

Oprah Winfrey

Finally, let us bring to mind two very popular and equally meaningful maxims:

1. Preparation is the mother of manifestation

2. He that fails to prepare, prepares to fail

This introduction will not be complete without some more details on these two maxims.

Preparation is the mother of manifestation

I read story of how a hunter normally sets a trap for an eagle. The hunter will prepare a big enough basket. Then he will get a fowl which he will use as a bait to set a trap for the eagle. The hunter will then mount the basket and fowl strategically, awaiting the flight of the eagle.

When the decision hour comes, the eagle will, while in its flight, sight the fowl and be attracted to his food. Meanwhile, the fowl which the basket is ominously mounted over is firmly leashed to make it impossible for the eagle to fly away with. Once the eagle takes the dive to pick his prey, he will of course, succeed in picking the fowl with his claw, but will not be able to fly up, since the fowl is tied.

Then the giant basket will swoop over the eagle. In that manner, the eagle will be trapped. Then the hunter will come and make a prey of the predator.

Considering this hunter’s eagle-capturing technique, it is clear that the process requires a lot of preparations. And the hunter painstakingly makes such preparations, which is the reason why he is able to manifest his hunting prowess against the giant bird, which is the toughest among the fowls of the air.