2022-05-01
Psalm 37:21 NLV
Jou begeerte na finansiële sekuriteit kan jou daarvan weerhou om te gee. Hoekom? Omdat jy voel dat elke rand wat jy weggee, nie meer onder jou beskerming is nie. Die teenoorgestelde is egter waar. Ons sin van vryheid en sekuriteit vergroot inderwaarheid wanneer ons gee, omdat om te gee ‘n verklaring is dat ons ons sekuriteit in iets anders as die bank of ons eie verdienste plaas. Om te gee is ‘n daad van vertroue in God en dit is die enigste manier om finansiële onsekerheid te oorkom. Dink aan al die dinge in die lewe waaroor ons min of geen beheer het nie. Siekte. Ongelukke. Werksverlies. Ekonomiese toestande. G’n wonder ons voel onseker nie!
Die Bybel sê: ‘Mense wat graag uitdeel, ontvang altyd meer. Daar is ander wat suinig is en hulle word arm. Mense wat ‘n ander iets gun, het self altyd oorvloed. Hulle wat ander se dors les, is self altyd verkwik’ (Spreuke 11:24-25 NLV). Vir die rasionele verstand klink dit nie reg nie, maar vir die verstand wat op die koninkryk gerig is, maak dit heeltemal sin.
Paulus skryf: ‘Dus staan die saak só: Wie suinig saai, sal karig oes; wie ruimhartig saai, sal volop oes. Elkeen moet gee soos hy in sy hart besluit het, nie uit spyt of dwang nie, want God het die blymoedige gewer lief. 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 én ook nog oorvloedig kan wees in elke goeie werk’ (2 Korintiërs 9:6-8 NLV). ‘n Rand sal nooit meer as ‘n rand in jou hand wees nie. Wanneer jy dit egter in God se koninkryk saai, begin dit met ‘n oes waaruit jy kan pluk wanneer jy ‘n behoefte het. Om te gee is waarlik die sleutel tot finansiële sekuriteit.
Sielskos: 2 Kon 4:42-44; Mark 6:30-44
Ecclesiastes 5:2 NLT
When writing about the topic of making commitments and keeping them, the author of Ecclesiastes was very clear about the right way to handle them. In The Message, his words are paraphrased: ‘Don’t shoot off your mouth, or speak before you think… When you tell God you’ll do something, do it – now. God takes no pleasure in foolish drivel. Vow it, then do it. Far better not to vow in the first place than to vow and not pay up. Don’t let your mouth make a total sinner of you. When called to account, you won’t get by with “Sorry, I didn’t mean it”‘ (Ecclesiastes 5:2, 4-6 MSG). That means we mustn’t be impulsive, we should listen as much as we speak, get as much information as we can, and then ask God for wisdom and guidance before making a commitment.
People often say what they think others want to hear, but that can end up causing a lot of trouble. We must be very careful not to promise something we can’t actually deliver. And if we do make a mistake and over-promise, we need to be honest and admit our mistake as soon as possible, rather than trying to cover it up or make excuses.
We might make a commitment based on our emotions, perhaps because we feel sorry for the person who’s asking, or because we want them to like us more. But true commitment doesn’t work like that. Emotions are constantly changing, but commitment has to be absolutely solid. It should be based on integrity. Real dedication shines through in times of trouble and adversity, and goes the distance when it’s based on godly values.
So before we make a commitment, let’s take time to think it through and get God involved.
2 Kings 4:42-44; Mark 6:30-44
Psalm 37:21 NIV
Your desire for financial security can discourage you from giving. Why? Because each dollar you give away feels like it’s no longer available for your protection. But the opposite is true. Our sense of freedom and security actually increases when we give, because giving is a declaration that our security rests someplace other than the bank or our own earning capacity.
Giving is an act of confidence in God, and it’s the only way to overcome financial insecurity. Think of all the things in life over which we have little or no control. Illness. Accidents. Job losses. Economic conditions. No wonder we’re insecure! The Bible says: “One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:24-25 NIV). To the rational mind it sounds counterintuitive, but to the kingdom mind it makes good sense.
Paul writes: “A few seeds make a small harvest, but a lot of seeds make a big harvest. Each of you must make up your own mind about how much to give. But don’t feel sorry that you must give and don’t feel… you are forced to give. God loves people who love to give. God can bless you with everything you need, and you will always have more than enough to do all kinds of good things for others” (2 Corinthians 9:6-8 CEV).
In your hand, a dollar will never be worth more than a dollar. But when you sow it into God’s kingdom, it begins a harvest you can reap when you have a need. Giving is truly the key to financial security.
Soul food: 2 Kings 4:42-44; Mark 6:30-44
2022-04-30
Colossians 4:3 NCV
We’re called to introduce others to God, but we don’t always feel confident in talking theology or answering the difficult questions. Fortunately, there are plenty of other things we can do to show a friend or loved one who God really is.
Here are some ideas: 1) Let them join you when you pray. This will help them to understand that prayer is how we build a lifelong friendship with God. It isn’t anything scary, formal, or complicated (although we can all struggle with prayer occasionally). It’s simply a conversation with a loving Father. God said, ‘When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honour them’ (Psalm 91:15 NLT).
2) Show them what God is like. We influence others’ concepts of God, and they understand Him through the interactions they have with us. So our behaviour should always reflect God, such as never being too busy to listen, giving encouragement, never belittling or being harsh, and showing love in everything we do.
3) Help them to see God at work. When people are encouraged to see God at work in the lives of others, they’ll begin to discern Him at work in their own lives too. They’ll begin to realise that He cares about them, and they can always turn to Him for support and guidance.
4) Don’t just tell them to go to church – take them. Church can be daunting for someone who’s never been before, or who might have had a bad experience of church in the past. Having a friend with them to act as guide, helper, and explainer can make all the difference in giving them a positive experience and seeing that church should be a warm and welcoming place of fellowship and connection.
Jam 1-2; Matt 4:12-25; Ps 94:1-11; Pro 10:24-26
Deuteronomium 4:40 NLV
As ouer dra jy konstant jou waardes aan jou kinders oor, doen dus die volgende: 1) Laat hulle jou sien bid. Help hulle om te verstaan dat gebed die manier is waarmee ons ‘n lewenslange vriendskap met God bou. God het gesê: ‘Hy sal roep, en Ek sal antwoord; in nood sal Ek by hom wees. Ek sal hom red en in eer herstel’ (Psalm 91:15 NLV).
2) Wys hulle hoe God is. Jou kind se konsep van God word deur jou gevorm. Of jy nou liefdevol en beskermend of afwesig en koud is, hulle sal God begin verstaan deur die interaksies wat hulle met jou het. ‘n Paar voorbeelde is dat God nooit te besig is om te luister nie, dat Hy konstant vir ons sê dat Hy lief is vir ons en dat Hy ons nooit mishandel nie.
3) Help hulle om God in ander te sien. Wanneer kinders aangemoedig word om God se werk in hulle eie lewens te sien, sal hulle begin om sy werk ook in ander mense se lewens raak te sien. Wanneer dit gebeur, sal hulle ander mense waardeer en respekteer en deur ander mense gewaardeer en gerespekteer word.
4) Moenie hulle kerk toe stuur nie, neem hulle saam. Kinders het die behoefte om te glo – en te behoort. Leer hulle dat net soos ‘n ledemaat wat nie aan die liggaam gekonnekteer is nie sterf, ons geestelik sterf tensy ons aan ‘n plaaslike kerk gekonnekteer is. Hulle sal dan altyd ‘n plek hê om heen te gaan.
Die Bybel sê: ‘As julle al die gebooie en voorskrifte gehoorsaam… sal dit goed gaan met julle en met julle kinders…’ (Deuteronomium 4:40 NLV). Die grootste geskenk wat jy vir jou kinders kan gee, is om hulle te help om die regte pad te vind.
Sielskos: Jak 1-2; Matt 4:12-25; Ps 94:1-11; Spr 10:24-26
