2026-02-28
Proverbs 22:7 NIV
Good credit establishes your future buying power. But when you misuse debt, you experience anxiety each month as you pull the envelope from the mailbox with the credit card bill that says you’ve spent more than you can afford. And what about the unexpected challenges of life? Your car needs a new transmission, or you need a medical procedure not covered by your insurance. The things you buy don’t just cost you money; there are other less tangible costs such as your peace of mind and your sense of security.
You forfeit these things when you continue to live beyond your means and throw good money after bad debt by taking out “interest-only” loans, no-down-payment financing, and other seemingly “easy” financing options. Like a juggler, you keep the plates in the air by making minimum payments each month. But eventually, you get tired of the stress and the plates begin to fall. You borrow money to stay afloat and then spend sleepless nights wondering how you’ll be able to keep up with the payments. Your embarrassment only compounds the situation as you hide your financial problems and put on a good face, cutting yourself off from the help you desperately need.
If you’re in debt, what’s the solution? (1) Identify the emotions that led you to purchase items you couldn’t afford in order to fill some unnamed hole within you. (2) Live on a budget. “There is desirable treasure… in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man squanders it” (Proverbs 21:20 NKJV). (3) Develop a plan for getting out of debt and staying out of it!
Soul food: 1 Ki 16:1-18:15; Luke 12:22-34; Ps 66:1-12; Prov 6:20-22
Spreuke 22:7 NLV
Goeie krediet bepaal jou toekomstige koopkrag. Wanneer jy egter skuld misbruik, is jy elke maand angstig wanneer jy jou kredietkaartrekening ontvang wat wys dat jy meer bestee het as wat jy kan bekostig. Wat ook van die onverwagte uitgawes in die lewe? Jou motor benodig ‘n nuwe ratkas, of jy moet ‘n prosedure ondergaan wat nie deur jou mediese versekering gedek word nie. Die dinge wat jy koop kos jou nie net geld nie; daar is ook ander minder tasbare kostes soos jou gemoedsrus en jou gevoel van sekuriteit daaraan verbonde.
Jy verbeur hierdie dinge wanneer jy aanhou om bo jou vermoë te leef en goeie geld agter slegte skuld aan te gooi deur van persoonlike lenings en ander finansieringsopsies gebruik te maak. Jy probeer al die balle in die lug hou deur elke maand die minimum betalings te maak. Uiteindelik word jy egter moeg van al die stres en die balle begin op die grond val. Jy begin geld leen om kop bo water te hou en bestee dan slapelose nagte om te wonder hoe jy met die terugbetalings gaan byhou. Jou verleentheid vererger net die situasie, wanneer jy jou finansiële probleme wegsteek en jouself van die hulp wat jy dringend nodig het, afsny.
Wat is dan die oplossing vir skuld? 1) Identifiseer die emosies wat jou daartoe gelei het om items te koop wat jy nie kan bekostig nie om ‘n naamlose leemte binne-in jou te vul. 2) Leef volgens ‘n begroting. ‘In ‘n wyse mens se huis is altyd kosbare besittings en uitgesoekte olie. ‘n Dwase mens gebruik alles op wat hy in sy huis het’ (Spreuke 21:20 NLV). (3) Ontwikkel ‘n plan om jou skuld af te betaal en skuldvry te bly!
Sielskos: 1 Kon 16:1-18:15; Luk 12:22-34; Ps 66:1-12; Spr 6:20-22
2026-02-27
Proverbs 29:25 NKJV
Sometimes we make the mistake of placing our trust in people when we should be placing our trust in the Lord. And since God cannot fail and people can, we end up getting hurt and disappointed. The Bible says that King Asa of Judah had a perfect heart toward God. Yet when an enemy nation came against him, he panicked and purchased a military alliance with another king. And he did it with funds he took from the house of God. Upon hearing the news of Asa’s coalition, his enemy retreated. Asa had figured out the solution. His plan had worked – or so it seemed. Then God sent the prophet Hanani to rebuke King Asa. Why? “Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on the Lord your God” (2 Chronicles 16:7 NKJV).
This is often the plight of those who are highly logical and intelligent. Their confidence is in their own ability to figure out a solution to their dilemmas. Hanani continued to rebuke Asa: “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars” (2 Chronicles 16:9 NKJV).
Later in life, when Asa faced a life-threatening disease, “he did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians” (2 Chronicles 16:12 NIV). They could not help him, so he died. So the word for you today is – never give people the trust that should be placed in the Lord alone.
Soul food: 1 Ki 14-15; Luke 12:13-21; Ps 61; Prov 6:16-19
Spreuke 29:25 NLV
Ons maak soms die fout om ons vertroue in mense te plaas, wanneer ons ons vertroue eerder in die Here behoort te plaas. Aangesien God nie kan fouteer nie, maar mense wel, word ons uiteindelik seergemaak en teleurgestel. Die Bybel sê dat koning Asa van Juda ‘n hart vir God gehad het. Tog, toe ‘n vyandige nasie teen hom opgetrek het, het hy paniekerig geraak en ‘n verdrag met ‘n ander koning aangegaan. Hy het dit met fondse wat hy uit die tempel van God geneem het, gedoen. Sy vyand het teruggetrek toe hy die nuus van Asa se verdrag hoor. Asa het ‘n oplossing vir sy probleem gevind. Sy plan het gewerk – of so het dit altans voorgekom. God het egter die profeet Ganani gestuur om koning Asa te bestraf. Hoekom? ‘…Omdat jy op die koning van Aram vertrou het in plaas van op die Here jou God…’ (2 Kronieke 16:7 NLV).
Dit is dikwels die lot van diegene wat hoogs logies en intelligent is. Hulle vertrou op hul eie vermoë om ‘n oplossing vir hul dilemmas te vind. Ganani het voortgegaan om Asa te bestraf: ‘Die Here kyk oor die hele aarde om hulle te help wat met hulle hele hart op Hom vertrou. Wat ‘n dwaas was jy nie! Daarom sal jy van nou af gedurig oorloë hê’ (2 Kronieke 16:9 NLV).
Later in sy lewe het Asa ‘n ernstige siekte opgedoen. ‘…Maar selfs in sy siekte het hy nie hulp by die Here gesoek nie, maar by sy dokters’ (2 Kronieke 16:12 NLV). Hulle kon hom nie help nie, dus het hy gesterf. Die woord vir jou vandag is dus: Moenie mense die vertroue gee wat alleenlik op die Here geplaas moet word nie.
Sielskos: 1 Kon 14-15; Luk 12:13-21; Ps 61; Spr 6:16-19
2026-02-26
Romans 12:1 NKJV
With the national coffers depleted from a series of costly wars, King Frederick William III of Prussia found his nation seriously short of funds as it attempted to rebuild. He refused to capitulate to his enemies and couldn’t face disappointing his people. He asked the women of Prussia to bring their gold and silver jewelry to be melted down and used in exchange for the things the nation desperately needed.
As each woman brought her jewelry, she was given a “decoration” of iron as a symbol of the king’s gratitude. On it was inscribed the words: “I gave gold for iron, 1813.” The women came to prize their gifts from the king more than their former jewels! Their decorations were proof they had sacrificed for their king. In fact, it became highly unfashionable in early nineteenth-century Prussia for women to wear jewelry but very fashionable to wear a cross of iron. It was from this that the Order of the Iron Cross was established.
There are two sides to the Christian life: blessing and sacrifice. Paul said: “Everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8 NLT). Jesus spelled out the cost of discipleship: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24 NKJV). The hymnist wrote: “‘Take up thy cross and follow me,’ I hear my blessed Saviour call. How can I make a lesser sacrifice when Jesus gave his all?”
Soul food: 1 Ki 12-13; Luke 12:1-12; Ps 58; Prov 6:12-15
