2026-03-31
Matteus 6:10 NLV
Elke keer wanneer jy konflik met iemand het, maar na hulle toe gaan en versoening en vergifnis vra – breek God se koninkryk in hierdie wêreld aan. Elke keer wanneer jy geld aan iemand wat honger of haweloos of arm is gee – breek die koninkryk in hierdie wêreld aan. Elke keer wat iemand ‘n verslawing met God se hulp probeer oorkom en bereid is om hulp by ‘n liefdevolle gemeenskap te kry – breek die koninkryk in hierdie wêreld aan. Elke keer as ‘n ouer wat aan sy of haar werk verslaaf is besluit om op te hou om hul werk te verafgod, hul lewe te herrangskik en die gesin wat aan hulle toevertrou is, te begin liefhê en versorg – breek die koninkryk in die hierdie wêreld aan. Elke keer wat jy iemand insluit wat eensaam is, elke keer as jy iemand aanmoedig wat ontmoedig is, elke keer wat jy iemand wat van die pad afdwaal uitdaag en elke keer wanneer jy die behoeftiges dien – breek die koninkryk van God in hierdie wêreld aan.
Jesus het ons geleer om te bid: ‘Laat u koningsheerskappy spoedig kom. Laat u wil hier op aarde uitgevoer word soos in die hemel.’ Let op dat Hy nie vir ons gesê het om te bid: ‘Kry my hier uit sodat ek na God se koninkryk kan gaan!’ nie. Sy gebed was: ‘Laat die hemelse dinge aarde toe kom. Laat dinge hier onder, in my lewe, verloop soos hulle daar bo in die hemel verloop.’
Die antwoord op hierdie gebed begin by jou persoonlik: jou liggaam, jou verstand, jou denkwyses, ens. Dan versprei dit na jou werkplek, jou familie, jou buurt, jou kerk en jou invloedsfeer. Dit alles begin deur jouself hierdie vraag af te vra: ‘Waar wil ek God se teenwoordigheid en krag in my wêreld sien aanbreek?
Sielskos: Jer 22-24; Luk 22:1-38; Ps 6; Spr 8:34-36
Matthew 6:10 NKJV
Every time you are in conflict with someone, but you go to them and seek reconciliation and forgiveness – the kingdom is breaking into this world. Every time you have a chunk of money and decide to give significantly to somebody who is hungry or homeless or poor – the kingdom is breaking into the world. Any time someone has an addiction and wants to partner with God so much that they are willing to get help from a loving community – the kingdom is breaking into the world. Every time a workaholic parent decides to stop idolizing their job, rearranges their life, and begins to love and care for the family entrusted to them – the kingdom is breaking into the world. Every time you include someone who’s lonely, every time you encourage someone who’s defeated, every time you challenge somebody who’s wandering off the path, and every time you serve the needy – the kingdom of God is once more breaking into the world.
Jesus taught us to pray: “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Notice He didn’t tell us to pray, “Get me out of here so I can go up there!” His prayer was, “Make up there come down here. Make things run down here, in my life, the way they run up there.”
The answer to this prayer begins with you personally: your body, your mind, your appetites, etc. Then it spreads to your workplace, your family, your neighbourhood, your church, and your sphere of influence. And it all starts by asking yourself this question: “Where do I want to see God’s presence and power break into my world?
Soul food: Jer 22-24; Luke 22:1-38; Ps 6; Prov 8:34-36
2026-03-30
1 Chronicles 29:14 NKJV
When the people of Israel brought offerings to build the temple, David said: “For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours… Both riches and honour come from You… All things come from You, and of Your own we have given You” (vv. 11-12, 14 NKJV).
Imagine for a minute that you’re responsible for giving away someone else’s money. You aren’t allowed to spend it; you can only decide where it goes. When you think of it that way, it’s not hard to imagine finding pleasure in playing the philanthropist. Who wouldn’t enjoy being a vital lifeline to those who truly need it? Or wouldn’t you sleep a little better knowing that you had made a difference in the world? Yet as a steward over what God has entrusted to you, that’s the situation you find yourself in.
You have been given someone else’s money and the opportunity to decide where it goes. The only thing that stands between you and unbridled joy is embracing that reality and pouring yourself into the work of God’s kingdom in the earth.
A farmer doesn’t acquire seed to consume or hoard it. He only decides where to plant it. And only after the seed has been irrevocably cast into the ground is a harvest returned. That’s how joy is realized. If you’ve yet to find your beneficiaries in this world, you could be depriving yourself of a joy you were created to know. Just beyond the fear that is dampening your generosity awaits a harvest of joy. Hence Paul wrote: “See that you also excel in this grace of giving” (2 Corinthians 8:7 NIV).
Soul food: Jer 18-21; Luke 21:34-38; Ps 31; Prov 8:32-33
1 Kronieke 29:14 NLV
Toe die volk van Israel offers gebring het om die tempel te bou, het Dawid gesê: ‘…Alles in die hemel en op die aarde behoort aan U, Here… Rykdom en eer kom van U alleen… Alles wat ons het, kom van U af, en ons gee vir U net dit wat U reeds vir ons gegee het!’ (verse 11-12, 14 NLV).
Stel jou vir ‘n oomblik voor dat jy daarvoor verantwoordelik is om iemand anders se geld weg te gee. Jy mag dit nie spandeer nie; jy mag net besluit waarheen dit moet gaan. ‘n Mens sal dit geniet om so ‘n filantroop te wees! Wie sou dit nie geniet om ‘n lewenslyn te wees vir diegene wat dit werklik nodig het nie? Sou jy nie ‘n bietjie rustiger slaap as jy weet dat jy ‘n verskil in die wêreld gemaak het nie?
Dit is die situasie waarin jy jou as rentmeester oor dit wat God aan jou toevertrou het, bevind. Aan jou is iemand anders se geld en die geleentheid om te besluit waarheen dit moet gaan, gegee. Die enigste iets wat tussen jou en ongebreidelde vreugde staan, is om daardie werklikheid te omhels en jouself in die werk van God se koninkryk op aarde te stort.
‘n Boer koop nie saad om dit te eet of te bêre nie. Hy besluit waar om dit te plant. Eers nadat die saad onherroeplik in die grond geplant is, word ‘n oes teruggegee. Dit is hoe vreugde verwesenlik word. Net anderkant die vrees wat jou vrygewigheid demp, wag ‘n oes van vreugde. Daarom het Paulus geskryf: ‘…munt dan nou ook uit in hierdie liefdeswerk’ (2 Korintiërs 8:7 NLV).
Sielskos: Jer 18-21; Luk 21:34-38; Ps 31; Spr 8:32-33
2026-03-29
Hebrews 13:5 NIV
People who were happy when they bought their clothes at thrift stores typically remain happy once they can afford designer duds. Those who weren’t are still the same unhappy people they were when they were poor; they just dress better. Learning how to be satisfied with what you have, and to feel grateful for it, starts with understanding what money can and cannot do.
There are things in life you cannot put a price on: good health, a family that loves you, the support of a friendship that has lasted many years, the feeling of accomplishment that comes from working hard and seeing your effort pay off. You cannot value these “possessions” in terms of cash. If you think you don’t have anything to be grateful for, consider the sound of your child’s laughter, the crash of the ocean as waves hit the shore, the unconditional greeting you receive each day from your pet, and the hug of a friend you’ve been separated from. Without these assets, you’re in spiritual default. These items are priceless and have nothing to do with shares or profits.
When you add up everything in life, the best things are free. If you’re not happy with your financial situation, then you need to take steps to change it. That’s wisdom and good stewardship. But before you do, conduct an audit of your personal assets. Yes, enjoying the spoils of success can be exhilarating. But remember to appreciate the beauty of life as well; it’s free. And it will fill you up in a way that money and things never will.
Soul food: Matt 21:1-16; Ps 118:19-29
