2025-07-31
Psalm 84:11 NKJV
Covetousness will rob you of contentment. It works like this: You browse through a home-decorating magazine, and the home you were thankful for an hour ago suddenly seems junky. Or you see an ad on TV for a new automobile, and the car in your driveway suddenly looks like a jalopy. God expects you to have goals for your life and to provide for your family but beware of coveting things so much that you become obsessed with how to get them.
When Israel went to war with Jericho, God told them everything in the city was to be destroyed. So afterward, when Israel stormed the small town of Ai and met with a humiliating defeat, Joshua was devastated. When he asked God why they had lost the battle, He told him it was because of sin in the Israelite camp. When Joshua investigated, Achan, one of his soldiers, confessed, “When I saw… the spoils… I coveted them and took them” (Joshua 7:21 NKJV). When Achan tried to conceal his sin by hiding the stolen goods in his tent, it cost him and his family their lives. When you covet, you question God’s wisdom, willingness, and ability to provide for you. Don’t do it!
When you find yourself wanting something, pray about it and trust God to give it to you – if it’s His will. His Word assures us, “No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” God knows what’s good for you and what’s not, and all your pleading won’t change His mind. But when your desire is to do His will, He promised, “You will always have plenty” (2 Corinthians 9:8 NCV).
Soul food: Deut 25-27; Matt 13:36-46; Ps 78:65-72; Pro 17:1-2
Psalm 84:12 NLV
Gierigheid beroof jou van tevredenheid. Jy blaai deur ‘n dekor-tydskrif en die huis waarvoor jy ‘n uur gelede nog dankbaar was, lyk skielik afgeleef. Of jy sien ‘n advertensie vir ‘n nuwe motor op TV en die kar in jou oprit lyk skielik soos ‘n skedonk. God verwag van jou om doelwitte vir jou lewe te hê en vir jou gesin te voorsien, maar jy moet versigtig wees dat jy nie só na dinge smag dat jy behep daarmee raak nie.
Toe Israel oorlog teen Jerigo gevoer het, het God hulle beveel om alles in die stad te vernietig. Later, toe Israel egter die klein dorpie Ai bestorm en ‘n vernederende nederlaag ly, was Josua diep ontsteld. Toe hy God vra waarom hulle die geveg verloor het, het God hom geantwoord dat dit as gevolg van sonde in die Israelitiese kamp was. Toe Josua ondersoek instel, het Akan, een van sy soldate, bely: ‘Ek het tussen die buit pragtige klere… gesien en ook silwer… en ‘n stuk goud…. Ek het dit begeer en toe vir myself gevat…’ (Josua 7:21 NLV). Toe Akan sy sonde probeer wegsteek het deur die gesteelde buit in sy tent weg te steek, het dit sy en sy gesin se lewens gekos. Wanneer jy gierig is, bevraagteken jy God se wysheid, gewilligheid en vermoë om aa jou te voorsien.
Wanneer jy graag iets wil hê, bid daaroor en vertrou God om dit vir jou te gee – mits dit volgens sy wil is. Sy Woord verseker ons: ‘…Hy sal die goeie nie weerhou van hulle wat doen wat reg is nie.’ Wanneer jou begeerte is om sy wil te doen, beloof Hy: ‘En God is in staat om aan julle elke gawe in oorvloed te gee sodat julle in elke opsig altyd van alles genoeg kan hê…’ (2 Korintiërs 9:8 NLV).
Sielskos: Deut 25-27; Matt 13:36-46; Ps 78:65-72; Spr 17:1-2
2025-07-30
Jeremia 31:3 NLV
Dr Gerald Mann skryf: ‘Moraliseerders is lief daarvoor om ons daaraan te herinner dat koning Dawid se lewe ná Batseba op die afdraande pad was. Hulle noem die lang lys van sy ellendes op: die baba uit die onwettige verbintenis het gesterf. Hy het nooit sy morele statuur herwin nie. Sy seuns het oor opvolging gestry. Een van hulle is onthoof omdat hy probeer het om hom te onttroon. God het hom sy grootste droom ontneem: om die Tempel te bou – daar was te veel bloed aan sy hande!
Kyk egter weer na die verhaal. Die openingswoorde van die boek Spreuke dwing sulke selfgeregverdigde uitsprake tot stilte: ‘Hierdie is die spreuke van Salomo, die seun van Dawid, die koning van Israel’ (Spreuke 1:1, NLV). Salomo, die fontein van God se wysheid, het uit twee mense wat hul persoon en voorreg verontreinig het, voortgespruit. Van al Dawid se heldedade – die reuse wat hy verslaan het, die koninkryk wat hy versterk het, die psalms wat hy geskryf het – was sy grootste prestasie egter die seun van sy oudag. Salomo is ‘n monument van teenstrydigheid vir al die moraliste. Salomo met sy groot insig, visie en vooruitstrewende wysheid het aan die knieë van twee gebroke siele wat deur die vuur van vergifnis herstel is en die genade van ‘n tweede kans ontvang het, grootgeword.’
Die Bybel waarsku ons oor die gevolge van sonde omdat enigiets wat jou kan seermaak, God raak – Hy wat jou liefhet en net die beste vir jou wil hê. God se liefde vir jou het egter geen vervaldatum nie. Hy het gesê: ‘Ek het jou lief met ‘n liefde wat nooit ophou nie.’ Die waarheid is: God is steeds lief vir jou!
Sielskos: Deut 22-24; Matt 13:24-35; Ps 78:56-64; Spr 16:33
Jeremiah 31:3 NKJV
Dr. Gerald Mann writes: “Moralizers are faithful to remind us that King David’s life was all downhill after Bathsheba-gate. They list the litany of his woes: the baby of the illicit union died. He never recovered his moral stature. His sons fought over succession. One of them was beheaded for trying to dethrone him. God deprived him of his grandest dream: building the Temple – too much blood on his hands!
But take another look at the story. The opening words of the book of Proverbs silence such sanctimony: ‘The proverbs of Solomon the son of David’ (Proverbs 1:1 KJV). Solomon, the fountain of God’s wisdom, sprang from two people who had adulterated their person and privilege. For all of David’s heroic feats: giant-killing, kingdom-consolidating, hymn-writing, his single greatest achievement was the son of his old-age. Solomon is a monument of contradiction to all the naysaying moralists of the ages. Where else did Solomon get his insight, far-sight, and foresight, but at the knees of two broken souls mended by the fires of forgiveness and given the grace of a second chance…You can begin again after your Bathsheba-gate!”
The Bible warns us about the consequences of sin because anything that has the power to hurt you concerns the God who loves you and wants only the best for you. When you willfully sin, God won’t let you off, but neither will He let you go! And God’s love for you has no expiration date. He said, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.” The truth is, God still loves you!
Soul food: Deut 22-24; Matt 13:24-35; Ps 78:56-64; Pro 16:33
2025-07-29
Ephesians 3:17 NIV
Unfortunately, the word fellowship has come to be associated with awkward gatherings in church basements, drinking red punch, and participating in stilted conversations. No wonder people give up on it! Paul describes connectedness as “being rooted and established in love.” When a tree puts roots into the ground, it takes in nutrients and water, and the tree grows and has life, but only if it’s rooted. In the same way, we’re rooted, and our souls are nourished in the love of God – and other people. We experience this physically and emotionally when we connect with somebody. When there is an exchange of genuine caring, the roots of your soul get fed.
We flourish when we’re connected with God and people, and we languish when we’re disconnected. Emotionally isolated people are more prone to depression, anxiety, loneliness, low self-esteem, substance abuse, sexual addiction, and difficulty eating and sleeping. One behavioural expert writes: “Connection not only helped make us who we are… it helps determine who we become as individuals… In both cases, human connections, mental health, psychological health, and emotional well-being are inextricably linked.”
Even animals that are isolated experience more intensive arterial sclerosis. One author writes, “A friend of mine used to have a dog and a cat [that] fought for ten years. Then the cat died… and the dog wouldn’t eat. Six weeks later he died.” That’s just a small illustration of the power of connection. This doesn’t mean you have to force yourself to become an extrovert. Some of the shyest people have the deepest friendships because they identify life-giving relationships, plug into them, thrive, and give back. And that’s what God designed you to do too.
Soul food: Deut 18-21; Matt 13:10-23; Ps 78:40-55; Pro 16:32
