2021-12-21
Spreuke 10:22 NLV
Daar is ongeveer vyfhonderd Bybelverse wat oor gebed handel en meer as tweeduisend verse wat handel oor hoe om geld en besittings te hanteer. Dit is nie verrassend om te hoor dat kwessies oor geld dikwels die rede is hoekom mense skei nie. Daar is ook ‘n goeie rede hiervoor: geld en stres gaan dikwels met mekaar gepaard. Die Bybel sê: ‘Dit is die Here se seën wat rykdom bring…’
Nie net verwag God van ons om geld te maak nie, maar wanneer ons Hom eer, sal Hy ons help op meer te maak. Daar is egter ‘n regte en ‘n verkeerde manier om dit te doen. Die Bybel leer ons dat geld deur harde werk bekom moet word. ‘Mense wat lui is, word gou arm. Hulle wat fluks is, word ryk’ (Spreuke 10:4 NLV). ‘Rykdom wat maklik kom, verdwyn net so maklik. Wie bietjie vir bietjie bymekaarmaak, het naderhand baie’ (Spreuke 13:11 NLV).
God verwag van ons om te werk, net soos Hy van diegene in bestuursposisies verwag om ‘n goeie dagloon te betaal. Werkers help die bestuur om ‘n wins te maak, terwyl die bestuur werkers help om ‘n salaris te ontvang. ‘n Wins wat deur harde werk verdien is en ‘n salaris wat eerlik verdien is, behaag die Here. Jou geld moet egter deur eerlike werk bekom word. ‘Wie arm mense veronreg om homself te verryk, of vir die rykes geskenke gee, sal self in armoede verval’ (Spreuke 22:16 NLV). Dit is ‘n waarskuwing aan diegene wat mense indoen deur buitensporige rentekoerse te hef. Die Boodskap parafraseer dit as volg: ‘Die Here haat dubbele standaarde. Besighede wat mense kul of minderwaardige produkte verkoop, is vir die Here ‘n gruwel’ (Spreuke 20:10 DB).
God stel dit duidelik: Wenners kul nooit, en Hy sal seker maak dat verkullers nooit wen nie!
Sielskos: Sag 12-14; Joh 21:15-25; Ps 47; Spr 31:6-9
Proverbs 10:22 NKJV
There are about five hundred Bible verses on prayer, and more than two thousand on handling money and possessions. It’s a make-or-break issue! It’s no surprise that money-related issues are often cited as a reason for divorce. And there’s good reason for this: money and stress often go hand in hand.
The Bible says, “The blessing of the Lord makes one rich.” Not only does God expect us to make money, but when we honor Him, He will help us to make more. But there is a right and a wrong way to do it. The Bible teaches that money should come by hard work. “He who has a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich” (Proverbs 10:4 NKJV).
“Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, but he who gathers by labor will increase” (Proverbs 13:11 NKJV). God expects those who “labor” to give a good day’s work, just as He expects those in management to pay a good day’s wage. Both labor and management are to make money. Labor helps management make a profit, while management helps labor make a salary. A profit well-earned and a salary honestly made are both pleasing to the Lord.
But your money must also be made by honest work. “He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches…will surely come to poverty” (Proverbs 22:16 NKJV). That’s a warning to those who rip people off by charging extortionate interest rates. Eugene Peterson paraphrases it this way: “Switching price tags and padding the expense account are two things God hates” (Proverbs 20:10 MSG). God makes it plain: Winners never cheat, and He will make sure cheaters never win!
Soul food: Zech 12-14; John 21:15-25; Ps 47; Prov 31:6-9
Proverbs 10:22 NCV
There are about five hundred Bible verses on prayer, and more than two thousand on handling money and possessions. It’s an important issue. Money-related problems can often be the cause of family tension and mistrust. And there’s a reason for this: money and stress often go hand in hand.
God isn’t necessarily opposed to us having money, but there are right and wrong ways to earn it. The Bible teaches that money should come through hard work. ‘All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty’ (Proverbs 14:23 NIV). ‘Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles, but he who gathers gradually by [honest] labour will increase [his riches]’ (Proverbs 13:11 AMP). God expects those who ‘labour’ to give a good day’s work, just as He expects those in management to pay a good day’s wage. The workforce enables the management to make a profit, while the management enables the workforce to make a salary. An honestly made profit and a well-earned salary are pleasing to God. But our money must also be made through honest work. ‘A person who gets ahead by oppressing the poor or by showering gifts on the rich will end in poverty’ (Proverbs 22:16 NLT).
Eugene Peterson puts the issue this way: ‘Switching price tags and padding the expense account are two things GOD hates’ (Proverbs 20:10 MSG). ‘The LORD’s blessing brings wealth, and no sorrow comes with it.’ When we earn money dishonestly or in a way that God doesn’t approve of, eventually we’ll face the consequences. But if the way we earn money honours God, we’re doing it right.
Zech 12-14; John 21:15-25; Ps 47; Prov 31:6-9
2021-12-20
Hebreërs 5:14 NLV
In die 1940’s het Switzerland 80 persent van die wêreld se horlosies vervaardig. Toe ‘n uitvinder in die 1960’s ‘n konsep vir ‘n nuwe tipe horlosie aan die leiers van ‘n Switserse maatskappy voorgelê het, het hulle dit verwerp. Al die ander Switserse maatskappye wat die uitvinder genader het, het dieselfde gedoen. Die uitvinder het egter geglo dat daar meriete aan sy ontwerp is en het dit aan ‘n maatskappy in Japan gaan voorlê. Die naam van daardie maatskappy was Seiko, die ontwerp van die horlosie was digitaal en raai wat? Vandag is 80 persent van die horlosies wat wêreldwyd verkoop word, digitaal van aard.
Een besluit wat deur goeie oordeel gedryf word, kan die koers van jou lewe verander en ander mense seën. Een kundige sê: ‘Slim leiers glo net die helfte van dit wat hulle hoor. Leiers met goeie oordeel weet watter helfte om te glo.’
Hier is twee dinge wat jy van Godgegewe oordeelsvermoë moet weet: 1) Dit word deur die Skrif gevorm. ‘Mense wat nog van melk leef, kan nie werklik saampraat oor die Christelike lewe nie… Vaste kos is bedoel vir grootmense [geestelik volwasse mense] – vir hulle wat in die skool van die lewe ingeoefen is om tussen goed en kwaad te onderskei’ (verse 13-14 NLV).
2) Dit word deur gebruik ingeoefen. Hoe meer jy dit gebruik, hoe meer gesout word jy daarin. Sal jy soms oordeelsfoute maak? Ja, maar soos enige spier sal dit sterker word hoe meer jy dit oefen. Hier is nog ‘n gedagte. Die Bybel verwys na die vermoë om onderskeid tussen geeste, houdings en motiverings te kan tref (sien 1 Korintiërs 12:10). Wat ‘n wonderlike voordeel om in die lewe te hê!
Sielskos: Sag 9-11; Joh 21:1-14; Ps 12; Spr 31:1-5
Hebrews 5:14 NKJV
In the 1940s, Switzerland manufactured 80 percent of the world’s watches. Then in the 1960s, when an inventor presented a concept for a new type of watch to the leaders of a Swiss company, they rejected it. All the other Swiss companies he approached did the same. They lived by the philosophy, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” Believing that his design had merit, the inventor took it to a company in Japan. The name of the company was Seiko, the design of the watch was digital, and guess what? Today 80 percent of watches sold worldwide are digital. One discernment-driven decision can change the course of your entire life and bless others.
One expert says, “Smart leaders believe only half of what they hear. Discerning leaders know which half to believe” (emphasis added). Here are two things you need to know about God-given discernment: (1) It’s shaped by Scripture. “For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word…But solid food belongs to those who are of full age [spiritually mature], that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (vv. 13-14 NKJV).
(2) It’s sharpened by use. The more you use it, the more seasoned you become. Will you sometimes make mistakes when it comes to exercising discernment? Yes, but like any muscle, the more you flex it, the stronger it grows. And here is an additional thought: The Bible refers to “discerning of spirits,” or attitudes and motivations (See 1 Corinthians 12:10). What a great advantage to have in life!
Soul food: Zech 9-11; John 21:1-14; Ps 12; Prov 31:1-5
