2020-12-23
1 Kings 17:13 NIV
Imagine a mother and her child in a severe famine, with just enough food for one last meal. Now imagine Elijah saying, ‘Share with me what you’ve got. Don’t be afraid; God will make sure you’ve more than enough to see you through.’ What would you have done in that situation? This woman chose to have faith and obey God. As a result, she survived the famine, and Jesus even mentioned her in one of His sermons. When we’re looking at giving to God, there are basically two kinds of givers: those who give God their ‘leftovers’, and those who give Him their ‘firstfruits’ (take a look at Proverbs 3:9).
The first type of givers see themselves as responsible for meeting their own needs, so they look after themselves first and then give what’s left over to God’s work. But the problem with giving their leftovers is that as soon as they face uncertainty, especially if it affects their finances, they forget to be generous. They make themselves the priority.
On the other hand, people who give God their firstfruits understand that He’s the source of everything they have. They prioritise giving to Him before they see to their own interests. They believe that what we reap is always greater than what we sow (have a read of 2 Corinthians 9:6-11).
The people in the first group act through fear – they fear they won’t have enough, or that God won’t come through for them, so they need to protect themselves – whereas the people in the second group are motivated by faith – they have faith and confidence that God will care and provide for them. Paul wrote: ‘My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 4:19 NIV). So when God asks us to give something, let’s be generous, and have confidence that He’ll reward our faith.
Zech 5-8; Matt 1:6b-11; Ps 113; Prov 31:14-17
1 Konings 17:13 NLV
Dink aan ‘n ma en kind in ‘n ernstige hongersnood, met net genoeg kos vir een laaste maaltyd. Dink nou aan Elia wat sê: ‘Deel met my wat jy het. Moenie bang wees nie; God sal seker maak dat jy meer as genoeg het om jou deur hierdie tyd te bring.’ Wat sou jy gedoen het? Die vrou het gekies om God te gehoorsaam. Gevolglik het sy haar hongersnood oorleef en het Jesus in een van sy preke aan haar hulde gebring.
Daar is basies twee soorte gewers: diegene wat dit wat oorbly vir God gee en diegene wat aan Hom die beste van hulle oes gee (sien Spreuke 3:9). Die eerste tipe gewer sien hulself as verantwoordelik vir hulle eie behoeftes, dus gaan dit wat oorbly na God toe. Die oomblik wat jy dan voor finansiële onsekerheid te staan kom, neem vrygewigheid die agtersitplek in.
Aan die ander kant weet diegene wat die beste oes aan God gee, dat Hy die bron van alles wat hulle het, is. Hulle is gemotiveerd om eerste in sy belange en tweedens in hul eie belange te belê. Hulle glo die skriftuurlike beginsel dat jy altyd meer oes as wat jy saai (sien 2 Korintiërs 9:6-11).
Vrees sal veroorsaak dat jy irrasioneel word en teenoorgesteld optree as wat jy in jou hart glo. Maak dit nie sin om God met jou finansies te vertrou nie, aangesien dit alles in elke geval aan Hom behoort? En om Hom met iets te vertrou wat in elk geval buite jou beheer is nie? Dink daaroor: Jy sê jy vertrou God met jou ewige lewe, maar tog verwerp jy sy aanbod om jou finansiële vennoot te wees. Maak dit sin? Die waarheid is dat jy nooit meer as God kan gee nie – wees dus vrygewig!
Sielskos: Sag 5-8; Matt 1:6b-11; Ps 113; Spr 31:14-17
2020-12-22
Matthew 6:27 NLT
Worry changes nothing except you – and not for the better. It won’t pay your bills, solve your family problems, or give you a good night’s sleep. You don’t add one day to your life, or one bit of life to your day by worrying. But you can age prematurely and die before your time. Read these two Scriptures carefully: “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever” (Psalm 125:1 NIV). “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you” (Isaiah 26:3 NIV).
Notice that the same word in both Scriptures is “trust.” Worry simply reveals our lack of trust in God! So who are we trusting in? Ourselves! And only when that no longer works, are we willing to hand God the problem. Can you imagine asking Michelangelo, “Are you sure you know what you’re doing with that chunk of marble?” God knows what He’s doing, and when you trust Him. “His peace…will guard your hearts and minds” (Philippians 4:7 NLT).
Paul is using a military metaphor here. The Philippians lived under Roman occupation, which was bad. But they knew that the sentries also guarded their town, which was good. They knew that before an enemy could get to them, it first had to get past the guards. And because you’re “in Christ,” Satan has to go through Him to get to you.
Are you getting the picture? Nothing – absolutely nothing – can get to you without first coming through Him! Once you accept that, God’s peace will fill your heart.
Soul food: Zech 1-4; Matt 1:1-6a; Ps 128; Prov 31:10-13
Matteus 6:27 NLV
Bekommernis verander niks, behalwe jouself – en nie ten goede nie. Dit sal nie jou rekeninge betaal, jou familieprobleme oplos of vir jou ‘n goeie nagrus gee nie. Jy kan nie een dag by jou lewe of een minuut by jou dag voeg deur jou te bekommer nie. Jy kan wel vroeg oud word en voor jou tyd sterf.
Lees die volgende twee Skrifgedeeltes aandagtig: ‘Hulle wat op die Here vertrou is soos Sionsberg; hulle is onbeweeglik en sal vir altyd bly bestaan’ (Psalm 125:1 NLV). ‘U bewaar elkeen wat op U vertrou in vrede, die mense wie se gedagtes op U gerig is’ (Jesaja 26:3 NLV). Beide Skrifgedeeltes bevat die woord ‘vertrou.’
Bekommernis openbaar eenvoudig ons gebrek aan vertroue in God! Wie vertrou ons dus? Onsself! Eers wanneer dit nie meer werk nie, is ons gewillig om ons probleem aan God te gee. Kan jy jou indink om vir Michaelangelo te vra: ‘Is jy seker jy weet wat jy met daardie stuk marmer doen?’
God weet wat Hy doen en wanneer jy Hom vertrou: ‘…sal die vrede van God julle harte en gedagtes soos ‘n veiligheidswag oppas’ (Filippense 4:7 NLV). Paulus gebruik hier ‘n militêre metafoor. Die mense in Fillipi het onder Romeinse besetting geleef, wat sleg was. Hulle het egter geweet dat veiligheidswagte hulle stad oppas, wat goed was. Hulle het geweet dat ‘n vyand eers verby die veiligheidswagte moes kom, voor hulle by hulle sou uitkom. Omdat jy ‘in Christus’ is, moet Satan eers verby Hom kom om by jou uit te kom.
Niks – absoluut niks – sal by jou kom sonder om eers deur Hom te gaan nie! Wanneer jy dit aanvaar, sal God se vrede jou hart vul.
Sielskos: Sag 1-4; Matt 1:1-6a; Ps 128; Spr 31:10-13
Matthew 6:27 NLT
We can often find ourselves worrying about things. And while it’s easy for people to try and help us by saying ‘don’t worry’, or ‘there’s no need to worry’, it’s not always easy to stop. Many of the things we’re worried about won’t even happen or won’t be as bad as we thought. But sometimes they do happen, so we might think we’re justified in worrying. If we’re finding it difficult to let go of worry, what can we do?
These Scriptures can help: ‘Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever’ (Psalm 125:1 NIV). ‘You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you’ (Isaiah 26:3 NIV).
Both verses talk about trust. Worry often reveals that we’re trying to trust in our own power, or the efforts of other people, rather than placing all our trust in God. So when we feel worry rising up, let’s use those feelings as a reminder to hand everything back to God and have faith in Him. It might not be easy, and it might take a conscious effort each time, but if we persevere, eventually it’ll become a habit. God knows what He’s doing, and when we trust Him, ‘His peace will guard your hearts and minds’ (Philippians 4:7 NLT).
When Paul wrote those words, the Philippians were living under Roman occupation, which was bad. But they knew that the sentries also guarded their town, which was good. They knew that before an enemy could get to them, had to get past the guards first. And when we choose to trust God completely, He’ll guard our hearts from worry and replace those feelings with His peace.
Zech 1-4; Matt 1:1-6a; Ps 128; Prov 31:10-13
