2021-09-07
Genesis 39:2 NCV
There are some social clubs and groups that will only allow you to join if you have a certain level of wealth, a certain background, a certain job, etc. But God’s kingdom doesn’t work this way. Let’s take a look at Jacob and his son Joseph.
Jacob had a reputation for cheating and making some bad choices. He cheated his brother Esau out of the inheritance, and then ran away when Esau promised to kill him for his deception. He went to stay with his uncle Laban, and wanted to marry Laban’s younger daughter, Rachel. But on the wedding day, Laban tricked Jacob into marrying his older daughter, Leah. But that didn’t faze Jacob. He just married both of them. He went on to cause tension and trouble among his children by favouring Joseph so much that Joseph’s brothers became jealous of the obvious favouritism and sold Joseph as a slave to get rid of him. But Joseph’s life is described in one verse: ‘The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man.’
Successful in spite of family dysfunction, betrayal, slander, and thirteen years of false imprisonment. Even Jacob, with all his faults, was blessed and used by God. With God on our side, we can overcome our faults. God doesn’t let our family history or our flaws define us. It doesn’t matter what our job is or how much money we have. We’re His children and He welcomes us to be part of His kingdom. That’s why the most important thing we can do is to build, maintain, and prioritise our relationship with God.
Num 29:1-6; Matt 24; Rev 11:15-19; 1 Cor 15:50-58
Genesis 39:2 NKJV
Admission to certain social clubs depends on your family of origin: blue blood, or blue collar. Sadly some employers and some churches do that too. But God doesn’t.
Imagine you were Joseph. You share a father with your siblings, but four different mothers have given birth along the way. You dad’s a con artist. He has been one his entire life and everyone knows it. The whole community knows he cheated your uncle out of the estate, and then hid behind his mother’s skirts before running off like a coward to avoid being killed. Your great uncle tricks your dad into marrying your mother’s sister, perhaps by getting your dad so drunk during the wedding feast that he didn’t know which sister he married. So he ended up marrying the plain one instead of the pretty one. But that didn’t faze him, he just married both of them! The one he really loved couldn’t have kids, so he slept with the nanny. He enjoyed it so much he started sleeping with most of the kitchen help too. No wonder you always thought that your brothers looked like the cooks!
But big doors swing on little hinges, and Joseph’s life is described in one verse: “The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man.” Successful in spite of family dysfunction and betrayal. Successful in spite of slander and thirteen years of false imprisonment. And with God on your side, you can overcome your beginnings and succeed too. That’s why the most important thing you can do is to build, maintain, and prioritize your relationship with God.
Soul food: Num 29:1-6; Matt 24; Rev 11:15-19; 1 Cor 15:50-58
2021-09-06
2 Corinthians 9:6 NKJV
Jim Penner says: “It was a cold snowy day as my mother drove my sister and me to church. Living at the bottom of the Rocky Mountains I’d become accustomed to slipping and sliding. I remember my mother being tense…and hoping she’d have enough traction to make the curve without plowing into the semi-truck ahead. Her tires were bald – new ones were low on our priority list that included food and shelter. As Mom placed a check in the offering that day, I remember thinking there were better uses for those funds. Yet here she was tithing! Surely God would understand we had so many needs at home. But there was a contentment about her…a peace that passed understanding as she gave to the Lord cheerfully and gratefully…After the service a church elder walked over to her and said, ‘I see your tires are bald…come by my shop tomorrow and I’ll give you some snow tires.’ Mom said, ‘But I can’t pay you.’ ‘No problem,’ he replied, ‘I just want to help.’ That day I witnessed two levels of giving: mom with her offering, and a kind man who wanted to help another human being.'”
Big things come from little things, and “he who sows bountifully will…reap bountifully.” As John Mason observes, “The miraculous realm of God always has to do with multiplication…Suppose a kernel of corn produces one stalk with two ears, and each ear has 200 kernels. From those 400 kernels come 400 stalks with 160,000 kernels…all from a single kernel. Some blessings are material, some spiritual. We don’t always know what we need most, but God does, and a generous spirit opens the floodgates of heaven.”
Soul food: Eze 27:25-30:26; Luke 20:9-19; Ps 112; Prov 20:1-4
2 Korintiërs 9:6 NLV
Jim Penner sê: ‘Dit was ‘n koue dag met sneeu toe my ma my en my suster kerk toe geneem het. Ek onthou dat my ma gespanne was en gehoop het dat sy genoeg traksie om die pad se draai sou hê. Haar kar se wiele was afgery – nuwe bande was laag op ons prioriteitslys. Soos Ma daardie dag ‘n tjek in die kollektebord gesit het, kan ek onthou dat ek gedink het dat ons daardie geld vir kos of huur kon gebruik het. Hier was sy egter besig om haar tiende te gee! God sou mos sekerlik verstaan het dat ons so baie ander behoeftes by die huis gehad het. Daar was egter ‘n rustigheid in haar; ‘n vrede wat verstand te bowe gegaan het soos sy vrolik en dankbaar vir die Here gegee het. Na die kerkdiens het ‘n ouderling na haar toe gestap en gesê: ‘Ek sien jou wiele is deurgery. Kom môre na my winkel toe en ek sal vir jou nuwe bande opsit. Ma het gesê: ‘Maar ek kan jou nie betaal nie.’ ‘Geen probleem,’ het die man geantwoord, ‘ek wil graag help.’ Daardie dag het ek twee vlakke van gee gesien: my ma met haar offer en die vriendelike man wat net ‘n ander mens wou help.’
Soos John Mason opmerk: ‘Die wonderbaarlike ryk van God het altyd met vermenigvuldiging te doen. Veronderstel een mieliepit produseer ‘n plant met twee mieliestronke en elke mieliestronk bevat 200 mieliepitte. Uit daardie 400 mieliepitte kom daar 400 plante met 160,000 mielepitte voor – alles uit ‘n enkele mieliepit uit. Sommige seëninge is materialisties van aard, ander is weer geestelik. Ons weet nie altyd wat ons die meeste nodig het nie, maar God doen egter, en ‘n vrygewige gees maak die hemel se sluise oop.’
Sielskos: Eseg 27:25-30:26; Luk 20:9-19; Ps 112; Spr 20:1-4
2 Corinthians 9:10 NCV
John Mason observed, ‘The miraculous realm of God always has to do with multiplication…Suppose a kernel of corn produces one stalk with two ears, and each ear has 200 kernels. From those 400 kernels come 400 stalks with 160,000 kernels…all from a single kernel. Some blessings are material, some spiritual. We don’t always know what we need most, but God does, and a generous spirit opens the floodgates of heaven.’
The Bible says: ‘God is the One who gives seed to the farmer and bread for food. He will give you all the seed you need and make it grow so there will be a great harvest from your goodness.’ When God prompts us to be generous with what we have, we’re equipped to give confidently, because all our resources ultimately belong to God anyway. Even if we think what we can give isn’t much compared to what others can spare, God will multiply it and broaden its impact.
And it works the same way with sharing the gospel. We might think we’re less worthy because we’re not amazing preachers who’ve brought many people to Christ. But a simple word we’ve said to someone might be just the thing that prompts them to turn to God, and they might go on to be a church leader or missionary who can help many people. We often don’t know how widely our influence has spread, but God can take a single word from us on a journey to help thousands. We should never think we have nothing to give, because God can do so much with a little, if we’re willing to trust Him and share it.
Eze 27:25-30:26; Luke 20:9-19; Ps 112; Prov 20:1-4
