2021-05-25
2 Corinthians 9:11 NIV
Pastor Andy Stanley writes: “As you move forward in your relationship with God, occasionally He will test your grip on your wallet. It’s a faith thing….every so often, God will prompt you to step out of your generosity comfort zone. And if you really want to keep God in control of your finances, you need to follow. There’s a line you must be willing to cross. You must be willing to go where you can’t rely on your own financial stockpiling, but only on the Lord Himself as your provider.
I’m not talking about acting irresponsibly with your money. I’m talking about an attitude in which God’s voice is louder than the soundtrack of ‘what ifs’ in your life. You can think of that line as the ‘what if’ line. You’ll know you’re getting close to it when your desire to follow your generosity is met by thoughts like, What if the interest rates change? or What if inflation picks up?…that line is different for everybody….
As frightening as it might feel at times, God gives us financial seed for one purpose: sowing. Unless we open our palms and let the seed fly, we will never know what fruit He might bring from it.” Here’s a biblical principle that you can always be certain of: “Whoever sows generously will also reap generously” (2 Corinthians 9:6 NIV).
When you take that step of faith and cross the “what if” line, God promises, “You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion” (v. 11 NIV). Go ahead; start to sow and watch what happens.
Soul food: 1 Ki 10-11; Mark 11:12-26; Ps 45; Prov 12:7-9
2021-05-24
Matteus 6:32 NLV
Jesus het hierdie raad aan ‘n groep mense wat bekommerd oor hulle finansies was, gegee: ‘Moet julle dus nie bekommer nie… Julle hemelse Vader weet tog dat julle dit alles nodig het… God [sal] vir julle al hierdie ander dinge as ‘n bonus byvoeg’ (verse 31-33 NLV). Hy sal dit van dag tot dag doen, as jy vir Hom lewe en die koninkryk van God jou eerste prioriteit maak.
Wat vrees jy die meeste? Om nie genoeg geld te hê nie, of om nie God se seën op jou finansies te hê nie? As jy vrees om God se seën mis te loop, belê jy in iets wat nie kan misluk nie – God se koninkryk. Jy sal met ‘n oop hand saai en as gevolg daarvan, sal jy ‘n vrede wat nie rasioneel verduidelik kan word nie en ‘n vreugde wat met die wete kom dat God jou ondersteuner, bankier en geluksaligheid is, ervaar. Die Bybel sê: ‘Gee al julle bekommernisse aan God oor, want Hy gee vir julle om’ (1 Petrus 5:7 NLV).
Niemand van ons kan finansiële onsekerheid vryspring nie. Op tye wat dit lyk of alles ineen gaan stort, wil ons graag die versekering hê dat ons nie alleen is nie. Ons wil met sekerheid weet dat wanneer ons ons finansiële sorge vir ons hemelse Vader gee, Hy goed na ons sal kyk. Ironies genoeg kry mens nie finansiële vrede deur op te gaar en terug te hou nie, maar deur te gee op tye wanneer dit nie sin maak nie. Dis jou gewilligheid om nou te gee wat God se belofte om terug aan jou te gee wanneer jy dit nodig het, waarborg. Dis hoekom dit noodsaaklik is om enige tyd wat jy kan, met ‘n oop hand te saai.
Sielskos: 1 Kon 8-9; Mark 11:1-11; Ps 47; Spr 12:4-6
Matthew 6:32 NLT
Jesus gave this advice to a group of people who were anxious about their finances: “Don’t worry about these things…your heavenly Father already knows all your needs…and he will give you everything you need” (vv. 31-33 NLT). He will do this from day to day, if you live for Him and make the kingdom of God your primary concern.
What do you fear most? Not having enough money, or not having God’s blessing on your finances? If your fear of not having enough is trumped by your fear of missing out on God’s involvement in your finances, you’ll invest in something that can’t fail – God’s kingdom. You’ll sow generously, and as a result you’ll experience a peace that can’t be explained rationally and a joy that comes from knowing God is your backer, your banker, and your blesser. The Bible talks about “casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7 KJV).
None of us can escape financial uncertainty. As one pastor writes, “When the unexpected rolls around, we will be affected. Our net worth, and possibly our income, will be impacted.” And at times like that when everything seems up for grabs, we long for the assurance that we’re not alone. We want to know with certainty that when we cast our financial cares on our heavenly Father, He will, in fact, take good care of us.
Ironically, financial peace of mind doesn’t come from hoarding and withholding, but from giving when it doesn’t seem to make sense. It’s your willingness to give now that guarantees God’s promise to give back to you when you need it. That’s why it’s imperative to sow generously any time you can.
Soul food: 1 Ki 8-9; Mark 11:1-11; Ps 47; Prov 12:4-6
Galatians 5:22 NIV
Whether we realise it or not, we all have influence over somebody. It’s what we do with our influence that determines whether it’s negative or positive. Some sociologists theorise that even the shyest and most introverted person will influence about ten thousand people over their lifetime. Every interaction we have with another person either enriches or impoverishes them. Influence is never neutral.
It’s important that we try to be aware of the influence we’re having, so we’re not leading others towards things that are harmful or ungodly. The Bible says, ‘The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, [and] self-control’ (Galatians 5:22-23 NASB). We need to try and develop those qualities, then we’re better equipped to be a good influence on everyone we interact with.
The bad news is that it’s not easy to live up to all these qualities all the time, but the good news is that it’s possible when we’re under the influence of God’s Spirit. Salvation is our starting point, but we need to spend time each day under the influence of Jesus; otherwise we’ll stay in one place without moving or growing. We won’t mature, we won’t maximise the spiritual gifts He’s given us, and we won’t discover and fulfil our God-given assignments in life. And we need to let God’s influence on us shine through every conversation, every thought, every action, and every word, so that others can be positively influenced through us.
1 Ki 8-9; Mark 11:1-11; Ps 47; Prov 12:4-6
2021-05-23
Spreuke 10:7 NLV
Die uitvinder Charles F. Kettering het een maal gesê: ‘Die grootste ding wat hierdie generasie kan doen, is om ‘n paar trapklippe vir die volgende generasie te lê.’ Mense mag dalk op die korttermyn met bewondering praat oor wat jy alles bereik het en vir jouself bekom het. Op die langtermyn sal hulle egter dit wat jy vir ander mense gedoen het, die meeste onthou. Dis hoekom die Bybel sê: ‘Dié wat reg lewe, sal onthou word. Hulle wat verkeerd gelewe het, sal gou vergeet word.’ As jy ‘n seën vir ander mense wil wees, moet jy: 1) regtig vir mense omgee en dit wys, en 2) besef hoe groot impak ‘n goeie nalatenskap kan hê.
D. Elton Trueblood het glo die volgende geskryf: ‘Ons het alreeds ‘n begin gemaak om die betekenis van menslike lewe te ontdek, wanneer ons bome plant onder wie se skadu ons weet ons nooit sal sit nie.’ Die groot redenaar Henry Ward Beecher het gesê: ‘Ons moet so lewe en werk sodat dit wat na ons as sade kom, na die volgende generasie as bloeisels moet gaan en wat na ons in bloei kom, na hulle as vrugte mag gaan. Dit is die ware gees van liefde vir die mensdom.’
Wat gaan jou nalatenskap dus wees? Wat moet jy ophou doen? Wat moet jy begin doen? Waarvan moet jy meer doen om dit ‘n realiteit te maak? Dis nooit te vroeg om te begin dink aan wat jy wil hê jou lewe moet beteken wanneer jy nie meer hier is nie. Net soos die naskrif aan die onderkant van ‘n brief, sê jou nalatenskap vir die mense wat na jou volg: ‘Dít is waaroor my lewe gegaan het!’
Sielskos: Hand 1:4-8; Rom 12:1-8; 1 Kor 12:1-13
