2025-04-02
Job 1:21 NKJV
Here is what Job said about his great wealth: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there.” Job understood that we all enter life with our hands empty, and we all exit life with our hands empty. The only thing we can take with us when we go is what we have sent ahead.
Jesus talks about this: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21 NKJV).
When Jesus referred to treasure, His audience would have understood that He was referring to clothing, food, or money. Rich people wore the best clothes, but moths could tear holes in them. Rich people ate the best food, but rats and worms could consume it. Rich people owned silver and gold, but since there were no banks, they stored their money in their houses. But because houses were made of clay, thieves could conveniently reach through the wall and rob it. What Jesus was saying was “Don’t put your treasure where it can be damaged, decayed, or done away with.”
A pastor writes: “Jesus doesn’t want your money. It’s already his. Jesus wants your heart. But since your heart always follows your money, he wants you to surrender your money, your wealth, your stuff to him.” When you do that, you’re investing in eternity instead of time.
Soul food: Lev 13:38-14:57; Luke 21:1-7; Ps 25:1-7; Prov 9:17-18
2025-04-01
Deuteronomium 8:18 NLV
Nadat hulle vierhonderd jaar as slawe geleef het, was die Israeliete op die punt om die Beloofde Land in te neem. God was egter besorg – dieselfde besorgdheid wat Hy oor elkeen van ons het. Wanneer jy min het, besef jy hoe afhanklik jy van God is. Wanneer jy egter baie het, is mens geneig om God, die bron van elke seëning, te vergeet.
Let op wat Dawid gesê het toe God se mense oorvloedig gegee het om die tempel te bou: ‘…Alles wat ons het, kom van U af, en ons gee vir U net dit wat U reeds vir ons gegee het!… selfs hierdie boumateriaal wat ons ingesamel het om ‘n tempel te bou om u heilige Naam te eer, kom van U af. Dit behoort alles aan U!’ (1 Kronieke 29:14, 16 NLV). Die gebed wat Dawid daardie dag gebid het, het ‘n blywende indruk op sy seun Salomo gemaak, wat later geskryf het: ‘En as God aan mense rykdom en besittings gee, en die vermoë om dit te geniet, is dit ook ‘n geskenk uit sy hand’ (Prediker 5:18 NLV).
Jy sê: ‘Ek het hard gewerk om bo in my beroep uit te kom,’ of ‘Ek het hard gewerk om hierdie besigheid op te bou.’ Wie het vir jou die krag daarvoor gegee? Wie het vir jou die talente gegee? As jy dink dat jy dit alles self behaal het, lees die volgende Skrifgedeelte, skryf dit neer en dra dit met jou saam: “Nou sê die Here, jou Redder, die Heilige van Israel: ‘Ek is die Here jou God wat jou leer wat vir jou reg is. Ek lei jou op die pad waarop jy moet loop'” (Jesaja 48:17 NLV).
Sielskos: Lev 11:1-13:37; Luk 20:41-47; Ps 32; Spr 9:10-16
Deuteronomy 8:18 NKJV
After four hundred years of living like slaves, the Israelites were about to take possession of the promised land. And God had a concern. What was it? The same concern He has about each of us. When you have little, you realize how dependent you are on God. But when you have much, your tendency is to forget God, the source of every blessing.
Note what David said when God’s people gave generously to build the temple: “All things come from You, and of Your own we have given You… God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a house… is all Your own” (1 Chronicles 29:14, 16 NKJV). The prayer David prayed that day left a lasting impression on his son Solomon, who later wrote: “As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labour – this is the gift of God” (Ecclesiastes 5:19 NKJV).
You say, “I worked hard to get to the top in my career” or “I worked hard to build this business.” Who gave you the strength? Who gave you the talent? Who gave you the strategy, the connections, and the resources to do it? If you think it was you, read this Scripture, write it down, and carry it with you: “Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: ‘I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way you should go'” (Isaiah 48:17 NKJV).
Soul food: Lev 11:1-13:37; Luke 20:41-47; Ps 32; Prov 9:10-16
2025-03-31
Haggai 2:8 NKJV
God owns everything. If you doubt that, read these Scriptures: “‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts.” “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein” (Psalm 24:1 NKJV). “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father” (James 1:17 NKJV). “Both riches and honour come from You, and You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; in Your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all” (1 Chronicles 29:12 NKJV).
What do these Scriptures mean? They mean that the bank account, the stock portfolio, or the title deed to the property may be held in your name, but God owns it all. You say, “Then what am I?” You are the administrator of God’s estate, and the executor of His will. Can an administrator do as he or she chooses with someone’s estate? No, they are required to manage it on behalf of someone else. Can the executor do as he or she chooses with someone’s last will and testament? No, they are required to follow the instructions given in that will.
And if you want to know the terms of God’s will for your life, they’re found in His Word. And the more God entrusts to you, the more He requires of you. Jesus said, “Everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more” (Luke 12:48 NKJV).
Soul food: Lev 8-10; Luke 20:34-40; Ps 72:12-20; Prov 9:7-9
Haggai 2:8 NLV
God besit alles. As jy daaroor twyfel, lees hierdie Skrifgedeeltes: ‘Die silwer en die goud behoort aan My, sê die magtige Here.’ ‘Die aarde behoort aan die Here, met alles wat daarop is, die wêreld en alles wat daarop lewe’ (Psalm 24:1 NLV). ‘Van Bo af kom net goeie, ja, volmaakte gawes. Hulle kom van die Vader wat die hemelligte geskep het…’ (Jakobus 1:17 NLV). ‘Rykdom en eer kom van U alleen, want U heers oor alles. Krag en mag is in u hand, om te verhoog en te versterk’ (1 Kronieke 29:12 NLV).
Wat beteken hierdie Skrifgedeeltes? Dit beteken dat die bankrekening, die aandeleportefeulje of die titelakte van die eiendom dalk in jou naam mag wees, maar dat God dit alles besit. Jy vra: ‘Wat is my rol dan?’ Jy is die administrateur van God se boedel en die eksekuteur van sy testament. Kan ‘n administrateur met iemand se boedel maak soos hy of sy wil? Nee, daar word van hulle verwag om dit namens iemand anders te bestuur. Kan die eksekuteur met iemand se laaste testament maak soos hy of sy wil? Nee, daar word van hulle verwag om die instruksies wat in daardie testament gegee word, te volg.
As jy die instruksies van God se testament vir jou lewe wil weet, kan jy dit in sy Woord vind. Hoe meer God egter aan jou toevertrou, hoe meer vereis Hy van jou. Jesus het gesê: ‘…Baie word verwag van hulle aan wie baie gegee is, en nog soveel meer word vereis van hulle aan wie soveel meer gegee is’ (Lukas 12:48 NLV).
Sielskos: Lev 8-10; Luk 20:34-40; Ps 72:12-20; Spr 9:7-9
