2024-10-19
2 Corinthians 9:7 NIV
Paul writes, “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.” The giving that God rewards is purposeful giving when it’s done with a cheerful attitude. Here are three ways to do that:
(1) Put people before yourself. Every one of the things of this world, including fame and fortune, is temporary. Individuals are what matter. Your job, pastimes, and other interests will die with you. People live on. The true measure of success is not in the number of individuals who help you but in the number of individuals you help (See Galatians 5:13).
(2) Don’t let stuff own you. No one should ever become a slave to their stuff. No one should make their life’s work about obtaining more just to have more. If you want to be in control of your heart, don’t let belongings take control of you. The question is, “Do you own your possessions, or do your possessions own you?” Givers use what they own as a resource to make this world a better place to live. And they do this regardless of how much or how little they have (See Matthew 6:21).
(3) Define success as sowing, not reaping. Robert Louis Stevenson said, “I consider the success of my day based on the seeds I sow, not the harvest I reap.” That should be the way we judge not only our days but our entire lives (See 2 Corinthians 9:6-10). If you live life with the intention of enriching the lives of others, your life will be full, not empty.
Soul food: Exo 33-35; John 4:27-38; Ps 32; Prov 27:1-3
2024-10-18
Lukas 6:38 NLV
As jy ‘n gewer wil word, moet jy aan jouself as ‘n rivier, eerder as ‘n reservoir, dink. ‘n Reservoir neem konstant water in, maar net om homself vol te maak. In teenstelling vloei ‘n rivier. Die water wat dit ontvang, gee dit weer weg. Let op wat Jesus oor gee gesê het: ‘As julle gee, sal julle ontvang. Julle gawe sal na julle terugkom in volle maat, ingestamp, geskud om plek vir meer te maak, tot oorlopens toe vol. Met watter maat julle ook al meet – klein of groot – dit sal gebruik word om te meet wat julle sal terugontvang’ (vers 38 NLV).
Wanneer jy jou tyd, kennis en hulpbronne gee sonder om iets terug te verwag, doen jy wat Jesus beveel het. Hier is ‘n interessante waarheid: Wanneer jy meer op die behoeftes en begeertes van ander mense fokus, word daar aan jou behoeftes en begeertes voldoen. As jy egter kies om dit wat jy het op te gaar eerder as te gee, word jy die middelpunt van jou eie eensame heelal.
Deur God se goedheid te onthou, neem jou dankbaarheid toe (sien Psalm 103:1-5). Dankbaarheid lei dan weer tot gee. Ondankbare mense is nie gewers nie. Hulle dink selde aan ander mense; hulle dink net aan hulleself. Hulle dae behels om na ander te soek om hulle by te staan, vir hulle te gee en op hulle te wag. Wanneer ander dan nie aan daardie verwagtinge voldoen nie, wonder hulle hoekom. Hulle selfsug weerhou hulle daarvan om te saai en hulle ondankbaarheid laat hulle wonder hoekom hulle nie oes nie.
Op watter manier kan jy dankbaarheid betoon? Deur ‘n gedeelte van die seën wat God in jou lewe uitgegiet het te neem en dit in ander mense se lewens uit te giet. Met ander woorde, wees ‘n gewer.
Sielskos: Eks 30-32; Joh 4:13-26; Ps 100; Spr 26:27-28
Luke 6:38 NIV
If you want to become a giver, think of yourself as a river instead of a reservoir. Reservoirs continually take in water, but only to fill themselves up. In contrast, a river flows. Whatever water it receives, it gives away. Note what Jesus said about giving: “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (v. 38 NIV).
When you give your time, expertise, and resources without expecting anything in return, you’re practicing what Jesus preached. And here is an interesting truth: When you focus more on the wants and needs of others, more of your own wants and needs are met. In contrast, when you choose to hoard what you have rather than give, you become the center of your own lonely universe. And you become less content, not more. As a result, you repel both people and potential blessing.
Recalling God’s goodness to you leads to gratitude (See Psalm 103:1-5). And gratitude leads to giving. Ungrateful people aren’t givers. They seldom think about others; they just think of themselves. Their days comprise searching for others to assist them, give to them, and wait on them. And whenever others fail to meet those expectations, they wonder why. Their selfishness prevents them from sowing, and their ingratitude causes them to question why they don’t reap.
In what way can you show gratitude? By taking a portion of the blessings God has poured into your life and pouring them into the lives of others. In other words, be a giver.
Soul food: Exo 30-32; John 4:13-26; Ps 100; Prov 26:27-28
2024-10-17
Psalm 91:4 NLV
Terwyl ons kinders grootword, is hul beskerming en veiligheid op die voorpunt van jou gedagtes. Wat egter van die families van nooddienswerkers, soos polisie, paramedici en brandweerpersoneel? Elke dag wat hulle geliefde werk toe gaan, is ‘n dag wat hulle dalk nie mag huis toe kom nie. Wat van die families van diegene in ons militêre magte, wat in vreemde lande onder konstante bedreiging en gevaar diens doen?
Wanneer dit by die veiligheid van die mense vir wie ons lief is kom, is daar wonderlike Bybelse beloftes waarop ons kan staan: ‘God is ons toevlug en ons krag; in nood is Hy gereed om te help’ (Psalm 46:2 NLV). ‘…Moenie bang wees nie, want Ek het jou verlos. Ek het jou by jou naam geroep. Jy is Myne. Wanneer jy deur diep water gaan, sal Ek by jou wees. Wanneer jy deur riviere gaan, sal hulle jou nie wegspoel nie. Wanneer jy deur vuur stap, sal jy nie verbrand nie. Die vlamme sal jou nie verteer nie. Want Ek is die Here jou God, die Heilige van Israel, jou Redder…’ (Jesaja 43:1-3 NLV). ‘Of ek by die huis bly en of ek rondloop, daar is niks wat ek vir U kan wegsteek nie. U weet alles wat ek doen. Al het ek nog nie eens begin praat nie, U weet wat ek gaan sê. U ken my deur en deur. U beskerm my hele lewe. Ek kan dit glad nie verstaan nie, al probeer ek. Dit is te oorweldigend. U is oral. Daar is nie ‘n plek waar ek heen kan gaan waar U nie is nie’ (Psalm 139:3-7 DB).
Geen versekeringsmaatskappy kan naby die beskerming kom wat God vir diegene wat Hy liefhet waarborg nie. Leef dus vandag in vrede – God sal jou geliefde veilig hou.
Sielskos: Lev 23:33-44; Joh 7:1-39; Sag 14:16-21
Psalm 91:4 NLT
When our children are growing up, their protection and safety are uppermost in our minds. But how about the families of emergency personnel, like police, paramedics, and firefighters? Any day their loved one goes to work is a day they may not come home. And how about the families of those in our armed forces, serving in foreign lands under constant threat and danger?
When it comes to the safety of the people we love, here are wonderful Bible promises we can stand on: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1 NIV). “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour” (Isaiah 43: 1-3 NKJV). “You chart the path ahead of me, and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment, you know where I am. You know what I am going to say before I even say it. You both precede and follow me, and place your hand of blessing on my head. This is too glorious, too wonderful to believe! I can never be lost to your Spirit! I can never get away from my God!” (Psalm 139:3-7 TLB).
No insurance company can come close to matching the protection God guarantees to those He loves. So be at peace today – God will keep your loved one safe.
Soul food: Lev 23:33-44; John 7:1-39; Zech 14:16-21
