Joseph's Pantry: A Seven-Day Family Stewardship Devotional
A seven-day family devotional on stewardship: one KJV passage, one small pantry task and one table question a day. Stewardship, not fear.
By Randall R. Russell, USMC Veteran
Health note: This is general information, not medical advice. Follow product labels and your doctor or pharmacist.
Joseph did not stock Egypt's granaries out of fear. He was given a word about what was coming, and he did the plain, faithful work of getting ready: he counted, he set some aside every good year, and he kept it safe. When the lean years came, there was bread, for Egypt and for his own family.
This is a seven-day devotional for your family. Each day has one passage of Scripture to read together, one small pantry task, and one question to talk about at the table. The reading and the talk take about fifteen minutes a day; a few of the tasks take longer. Stewardship, not fear. The free printable has every day's passage, task and question, with room to write.
Day 1: Count What You Have
"Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years. And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine." ~ Genesis 41:34-36 (KJV)
Today's task: Joseph kept count of the grain until there was too much to number (Genesis 41:49). Start with your own count. Open the pantry and write down what is there. Do not buy anything yet.
At the table: What are the "plenteous years" in our house right now? What do we have more of than we need?
Day 2: A Little at a Time
"Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest." ~ Proverbs 6:6-8 (KJV)
Today's task: The ant does not build a storehouse in a day. Pick two extra items to add on your next grocery trip, things your family already eats. That is the whole job this week.
At the table: What is one habit we could keep every week without anyone telling us to?
Day 3: Count the Cost
"For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?" ~ Luke 14:28 (KJV)
Today's task: Sit down and set a small weekly pantry amount your family can keep without strain. Write it down. A plan you can afford is better than a big one you abandon.
At the table: Where have we started something and not finished it? What would help us finish this one?
Day 4: Keep It, Don't Spend It Up
"There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up." ~ Proverbs 21:20 (KJV)
Today's task: Set up first in, first out. Move older cans and boxes to the front and put new ones behind them. Write the date on anything that does not have one you can read.
At the table: What is the difference between saving and hoarding? How would we know if we crossed that line?
Day 5: Provide for Your Own House
"But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." ~ 1 Timothy 5:8 (KJV)
Today's task: Make a short list of what only your family needs: baby food or formula, special diets, allergies, food for the pets, and anything an older family member needs. Those come first, before anything else on the shelf.
At the table: Who else depends on our house? A parent, a neighbor, someone at church?
Day 6: Daily Bread, With Thanks
"Give us this day our daily bread." ~ Matthew 6:11 (KJV)
Today's task: Cook one meal together using only what is in the pantry. No store run. Before you eat, give thanks for it out loud.
At the table: What did we learn from eating out of the pantry? What would we want more of, and what would we never buy again?
Day 7: Stewardship, Not Fear
"Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." ~ Matthew 6:34 (KJV)
Today's task: Rest. Then, if you are ready, plan your first full month with our free 30-Day Food Storage Calculator. It works out how much your family needs from your own headcount.
At the table: Did this week make us more anxious or less? Preparing is our part. Tomorrow is God's.
Where to Go From Here
- For the first three days of food, see our 72-Hour Emergency Food Supply guide.
- Before you buy a bucket of emergency food, read our Emergency Food Buyer's Checklist.
- For more on why we prepare the way we do, read our article on biblical preparedness and stewardship.
Get the Printable Devotional
The free printable has all seven days on four pages: the passage, the task, the table question, and lines for your family's answers and pantry notes. See all of our free printable guides.
All Scripture quoted from the King James Version.
Your free printable plan
4 pages with lines to write on. No store links and no prices inside.
Every pick above also sits with our other emergency food supply picks.
See all Emergency Food Supply picks on the Deals page →