2020-05-21
Proverbs 11:24 NIV
It’s important for us to have a balance between spending and saving our money. If we’re always spending, then we’re not wisely preparing for our future. If we’re always saving, we’re not using the money we have to be generous to others, or to enjoy life now. So let’s start by looking at spending. It’s a good idea to regularly review how much money we’re spending, and what we’re spending it on. While the Bible doesn’t have lots of specifics about how we should spend money, it does give us a few guidelines to follow: 1) Be generous. We’re told, ‘do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased’ (Hebrews 13:16 NIV). God doesn’t want us to only spend our money on ourselves. We can give to charity and we can share with people who are struggling financially. 2) Tithe. The principle of tithing is to give a portion of our income to the church. Some people feel uncomfortable with this principle, but what God is basically asking is that we use some of our money to help build His kingdom. By giving some back we recognise that it was a gift from God, and it’s an expression of our gratitude to Him. 3) Give cheerfully. In 2 Corinthians, we’re told: ‘Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver’ (9:7 NIV). God’s interested in our hearts. So if we’re just giving money away because we feel like we have to, or because we think God will bless us if we do, then our hearts aren’t in the right place. We need to be giving because we want to bless others, and to show our gratitude to God.
Heb 5-8; Mark 10:23-34; Ps 93; Prov 11:30-31
Ecclesiastes 10:19 KJV
The Bible teaches that God wants you to have enough money to: (1) Provide for the needs of your family and help them to succeed. “If any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel” (1 Timothy 5:8 KJV). (2) Tithe, and finance His work. “‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it'” (Malachi 3:10 NIV). (3) Pay your taxes and your obligations. In answer to the question “Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” Jesus replied, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God” (Matthew 22:17-22 NLT). (4) Send His Word to the four corners of the world. “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?” (Romans 10:14-15 NKJV). (5) Help the poor and needy. “Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who delights greatly in His commandments…Wealth and riches will be in his house…He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever” (Psalm 112:1, 3, 9 NKJV). When your reason for wanting money is to fulfill God’s will and bless others, God will honor you.
Soul food: Heb 5-8; Mark 10:23-34; Ps 93; Prov 11:30-31
Prediker 10:19 NLV
Die Bybel leer ons dat God wil hê dat jy genoeg geld moet hê om: 1) Aan die behoeftes van jou familie te voldoen en hulle te help om sukses te behaal. ‘Dié wat nie hulle eie familie versorg nie, veral dié wat in dieselfde huishouding woon, verloën wat ons glo. Sulke mense is slegter as ongelowiges’ (1 Timoteus 5:8 NLV). 2) Jou tiende te gee en God se werk te finansier. “Die magtige Here sê: ‘Bring al die tiendes na die stoorkamers sodat daar genoeg kos in my tempel kan wees. Toets My hierin of Ek nie vir julle die vensters van die hemel sal oopmaak nie. Ek sal voorspoed op julle laat reën wat meer as genoeg vir julle sal wees!'” (Maleagi 3:10 NLV). 3) Om jou belasting te betaal en jou verpligtinge na te kom. ‘…gee dan aan die keiser wat hom toekom. Maar gee ook aan God alles wat Hóm toekom’ (Matteus 22:17-22 NLV). 4) Om sy Woord na die vier uithoeke van die aarde uit te dra. ‘Maar hoe sal hulle Hom aanroep as hulle nie in Hom glo nie? En hoe sal hulle in Hom glo as hulle nog nooit van Hom gehoor het nie? En hoe sal hulle van Hom hoor sonder dat daar iemand is wat die boodskap bring? En hoe sal hulle die boodskap bring as hulle nie gestuur word nie?..’ (Romeine 10:14-15 NLV). 5) Om die armes en behoeftiges te help. ‘…Geseënd is hy wat die Here dien, hy wat met groot vreugde sy gebooie onderhou… Oorvloed en rykdom vul sy huis… Hy gee ruim vir hulle in nood. Sy goeie dade word altyd onthou…’ (Psalm 112:1, 3, 9 NLV). Wanneer jy meer geld wil hê om God se wil te vervul en ander mense te seën, sal God jou eer.
Sielskos: Heb 5-8; Mark 10:23-34; Ps 93; Spr 11:30-31
2020-05-20
Hebrews 4:16 NKJV
When you have a spiritual, physical, relational, or financial need, God says He will meet it. But some of us have a hard time believing this. After all, Jesus condemned the rich man for overlooking the poor man sitting on his doorstep. And God hasn’t changed His position on that issue. Jesus told the story of a man so busy making money that he had no time for God. “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God” (Luke 12:20-21 NLT). And He hasn’t changed positions on that issue either. Jesus threw the money changers out of the temple because they were ripping people off. He went so far as to call them “a den of thieves” (Mark 11:17 NKJV). Does that mean God is interested in meeting our spiritual needs but not our material ones? Let’s be clear; your spiritual needs should always be your highest priority, but let’s allow the Scriptures to speak for themselves. When it comes to God and your money, Jesus said: “Don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:31-33 NLT). Note the word “everything.” When you’re in right standing with God, you can pray with confidence and ask Him to bless you in all things!
Soul food: Heb 1-4; Mark 10:13-22; Ps 88:9b-18; Prov 11:27-29
Hebreërs 4:16 NLV
Wanneer jy ‘n geestelike, fisiese, finansiële of verhoudingsbehoefte het, sê God dat Hy dit sal vervul. Sommige van ons vind dit egter moeilik om te glo. Jesus het immers die ryk man veroordeel wat die arm man wat by sy deur gesit het, geïgnoreer het. God het nie sy standpunt daaroor verander nie. Jesus het die verhaal vertel van ‘n man wat so besig was om geld te maak, dat hy nie tyd vir God gehad het nie. ‘Maar God het vir hom gesê: ‘Jou dwaas! Jy sal vannag nog sterf. Wie sal dan alles kry?’ Ja, ‘n mens is ‘n dwaas as jy net aardse rykdom versamel, maar nie ‘n ryk verhouding met God het nie’ (Lukas 12:20-21 NLV). Hy het ook nie sy standpunt hieroor verander nie. Jesus het die geldwisselaars uit die tempel uitgegooi omdat hulle die mense verkul het. Hy het sover gegaan as om hulle ‘n ‘rowersnes’ te noem (sien Markus 11:17 NLV). Beteken dit dat God aan ons geestelike behoeftes wil voldoen, maar nie aan ons materiële behoeftes nie? Kom ons wees duidelik: Jou geestelike behoeftes moet altyd jou eerste prioriteit wees, maar kom ons laat die Skrif toe om die vraag self te antwoord: ‘Moet julle dus nie bekommer en vra: ‘Wat sal ons tog eet?’ of: ‘Wat sal ons drink?’ of: ‘Wat sal ons aantrek?’ nie. Dit is die ongelowiges wat oor hierdie soort dinge begaan is. Julle hemelse Vader weet tog dat julle dit alles nodig het. Nee, maak die koningsheerskappy van God en dit wat voor Hom reg is, julle prioriteit; dan sal God vir julle al hierdie ander dinge byvoeg’ (Matteus 6:31-33 NLV). Let op die woorde: ‘al hierdie ander dinge.’ As jy geregverdig voor God is, kan jy met vertroue bid en Hom vra om jou in alle dinge te seën!
Sielskos: Heb 1-4; Mark 10:13-22; Ps 88:9b-18; Spr 11:27-29
