2020-05-25
John 1:14 MSG
In The Message, Eugene Peterson paraphrases John 1:14 like this: ‘The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighbourhood.’ Jesus came into the world for two reasons. Firstly, to give us eternal life. Secondly, to let us know that He cares about every detail of our lives. Sometimes we can end up thinking that God only cares about certain aspects of our lives, things like our spiritual growth, our generosity, or our relationships. But actually God cares about every part of our lives, including our finances. When Jesus was teaching the people, He covered many different topics, including our relationship with money. God knew that it would be an issue for all of us, whether we have too much, too little, or just enough. Money can become an idol for us, and Jesus went as far as to say, ‘it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!’ (Mark 10:25 NLT). God cares about the burdens we’re carrying today, including our financial burdens. Instead of doubting God and trying to fix everything on our own, we need to hand our cares over to Him and ask for His help. He’s longing to give us the wisdom and guidance we need about our money. He wants to help us keep Him at the centre of our lives, rather than allowing the love of money to take over our hearts. God loves each of us and wants to bless every area of our lives. We need to start opening up to Him about our finances, asking for guidance about spending and saving, thanking Him for the financial blessings He has given us, and praying for opportunities to be generous towards others.
1 Kings 1-2; Mark 11:12-26; Ps 45; Prov 12:7-9
2020-05-24
2 Korintiërs 8:9 NLV
Die Bybel verseker ons dat God nie arm is nie. ‘Die silwer en die goud behoort aan My, sê die magtige Here’ (Haggai 2:8 NLV). ‘Want al die diere van die bos is Myne, ook die wild op duisende berge’ (Psalm 50:10 NLV). Vra jouself af: As jy ‘n biljoenêr was, sou jy gelukkig gewees het as jou kinders in vodde geklee en honger was? Nie? Wel, God is ook nie gelukkig daarmee nie! Paulus skryf: ‘Julle ken die ongelooflike goedheid van ons Here Jesus Christus. Alhoewel Hy ryk was, het Hy ter wille van julle arm geword sodat julle deur sy armoede ryk kon word’ (2 Korintiërs 8:9 NLV). Miskien het jy hierdie Skrifgedeelte gelees en gedink dat Paulus geestelik ryk bedoel het, nie finansieel ryk nie. Kom ons lees die teks in daardie konteks en kyk of dit sin maak: ‘Alhoewel Hy geestelik ryk was, het Hy ter wille van julle geestelik arm geword sodat julle deur sy geestelike armoede, geestelik ryk kon word.’ Dis nie wat dit sê nie! Wanneer was Jesus ooit geestelik arm? Nee, die vers sê wat dit bedoel en bedoel wat dit sê. ‘…sodat julle… ryk kon word.’ Die woord ‘ryk’ beteken verskillende goed vir verskillende mense. In sommige lande word jy as ryk geag as jy ‘n dak oor jou kop het, drie maaltye ‘n dag kan eet en ‘n fiets het om mee werk toe te ry. Voorspoed, volgens die Bybel, beteken eenvoudig dat jy genoeg het om die wil van God te doen. Het God ‘n doel vir jou lewe? Ja. Wil Hy hê dat jy genoeg geld moet hê om sy wil vir jou lewe te vervul? Ja. Dis God se plan vir jou lewe!
Sielskos: Joh 6:1-15; Joh 6:25-40; 1 Kor 11:23-24
2 Corinthians 8:9 NKJV
The Bible assures us that God isn’t poor. “‘The silver is mine, and the gold is mine,’ saith the Lord” (Haggai 2:8 KJV). “Every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills” (Psalm 50:10 KJV). Now ask yourself: If you were a billionaire, would you be happy seeing your children running around ragged and hungry? No? Well, neither is God! Paul writes, “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9 KJV). Maybe you’ve read this Scripture and thought Paul was talking about being spiritually rich but not financially rich. Let’s read the verse in that context and see if it makes sense: “He who was spiritually rich, for our sakes became spiritually poor, that through his spiritual poverty, we might become spiritually rich.” That’s not what it says! Question: When was Jesus ever spiritually poor? No, the verse says what it means and means what it says: “That you…might become rich.” Now, the word “rich” means different things to different people. In some countries you’re considered rich if you have a roof over your head, three square meals a day, and a bicycle to ride to work. In fact, right now would be a good time to discuss the much abused and widely misunderstood Bible word “prosperity.” Prosperity simply means “having enough to do the will of God.” Does God have a will for your life? Yes. Does He want you to have enough money to fulfill His will for your life? Yes. That’s God’s plan for your life!
Soul food: John 6:1-15; John 6:25-40; 1 Cor 11:23-24
2 Corinthians 8:9 NCV
What does it mean to be ‘rich’? Our answer to that question probably depends on where we live and the culture we were raised in. For some people, being rich means owning a mansion, having millions saved up, or having enough money to retire at a young age and never needing to work again. For others it means having enough food for each day, a safe place to live, and the ability to provide for the family. For other people, it might be somewhere in between. But what if we defined being ‘rich’ as having enough to do God’s will? How would we live differently? Would we strive to earn promotions and pay rises? Would we spend our money on the same things we do now? God has a plan and purpose for our lives, and He’ll provide enough for us to be able to do it. It’s not wrong to have money, or to enjoy having it. In fact, in Ecclesiastes we’re told: ‘God gives some people the ability to enjoy the wealth and property he gives them’ (5:19 NCV). But it’s vital that we remember that our wealth is a blessing from God. David said of God: ‘Riches and honour come from you. You rule everything. You have the power and strength to make anyone great and strong’ (1 Chronicles 29:12 NCV). We need to focus less on the blessing, and more on the One who has blessed us. We also need to remember that, because of Jesus, we’re spiritually rich. The Bible says: ‘You know that Christ was rich, but for you he became poor so that by his becoming poor you might become rich’ (2 Corinthians 8:9 NCV). We have the Holy Spirit living inside us, we’re blessed with gifts and skills, and our real treasure will be in heaven.
John 6:1-15; John 6:25-40; 1 Cor 11:23-24
2020-05-23
Deuteronomium 8:18 NLV
Wanneer dit by God en jou geld kom: 1) Sal Hy jou seën wanneer jy doen wat Hom behaag. Hoekom? Omdat jy met jou dade bewys dat dit vir jou belangriker is om sy wil te doen, as om jou eie dinge te doen. ‘…Uitstekend!.. In die kleine het jy jou betroubaar bewys. Daarom gaan ek nog baie groter verantwoordelikhede aan jou toevertrou…’ (Matteus 25:23 NLV). Daar is egter ‘n ander kant van die muntstuk. Wanneer jy willens en wetens dit doen wat God nie behaag nie, sal Hy ophou om jou te seën. ‘…Vat die muntstuk by hom en gee dit vir die een wat die tien muntstukke het. Aan hulle wat dit wat aan hulle toevertrou is goed gebruik, sal nog meer gegee word… Maar van hulle wat niks kan wys nie, sal selfs die bietjie wat hulle het, ook nog weggeneem word’ (verse 28-29 NLV). 2) Sal Hy jou wys hoe om meer geld te maak. Hy het vir Josef gewys hoe om te midde van ‘n wêreldwye hongersnood voorspoedig te wees en die nasies rondom hom te seën. Toe die visse nie wou byt nie, het Jesus vir die dissipels gewys waar om ‘n bootvrag visse te kry. God werk deur onwaarskynlike kanale en Hy wil hê dat jy op Hom moet vertrou as die bron van alles wat jy nodig het. Die Bybel sê: ‘Onthou altyd dat dit die Here jou God is wat vir jou die krag gee om ryk te word…’ Die woord ‘krag’ sluit idees, strategieë, planne, verhoudings en beleggings in. Ja, God kan vir jou ‘n onverwagte tjek in die pos stuur wat jou probleem tydelik sal oplos, maar jy moet Hom vertrou vir ‘n plan wat jou probleem permanent sal oplos.
Sielskos: Heb 11:17-13:25; Mark 11:1-11; Ps 47; Spr 12:4-6
