Hoofstuk 1 “Die Armoede Mentaliteit Gedefinieer”

“En my God sal in elke behoefte van julle

ryklik voorsien volgens

sy wonderbaarlike rykdom in Christus Jesus…” 

—Filippense 4:19

So many women, especially women who are the sole providers of their household, seem to fall into what I have begun referring to as the “Poverty Mentality.” The Poverty Mentality is when we use phrases such as, “I can’t afford it” or “I’m on a tight budget” and any other way we slander or shame our heavenly Husband. The danger is, as these phrases and mindset become a part of your vocabulary, it very soon gets buried, entering your heart, and the enemy steals your peace from you.

So baie vrouens, spesiaal vrouens wie die enigste voorsiener van hulle huishouding is, lyk asof hulle in wat ek na  verwys as die “Armoede Mentaliteit” val. Die Armoede Mentaliteit is wanneer ons sulke frases gebruik soos, “Ek kan dit nie bekostig nie” of “ek is op ‘n knap begroting” en enige ander manier wat ons ons Hemelse Man laster of skande bring. Die gevare is, as hierdie frases en ingesteldheid ‘n deel van jou woordeskat geword het, word dit gou begrawe, gaan jou hart binne, en die vyand steel sy vrede van jou af.

“For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart” (Matthew 12:34).

“Waar die hart van vol is, loop die mond van oor” (Matteus 12:34).

It’s very easy to slip into this mindset and mental stronghold, especially when it’s you who pays the bills or begins to take over the finances after a divorce. It can hit when you read your divorce papers, what it says you are going to get in the settlement, like the first time I foolishly read through my divorce papers. Or like me this time, when you total up your family’s debt, where you’d been hoping to consolidate the debt you believed was there in order to qualify for a lower percentage loan, but find the amount of debt your ex-husband has left you is hundreds of times larger.

Dit is baie maklik om in hierdie ingesteldheid en verstandelike vesting te glip, spesiaal wanneer dit jy is wie die rekeninge betaal of begin om die finansies na die egskeiding oor te neem. Dit kan jou tref wanneer jy jou egskeiding papiere lees, wat dit sê jy in die skikking gaan kry, soos die eerste keer wat ek soos ‘n dwaas deur my egskeiding papiere gelees het. Of soos ek die keer, wanneer jy die familie se skuld optel, waar jy gehoop het om jou skuld te konsolideer wat jy geglo het daar was sodat jy vir ‘n laer rentekoers lening kon kwalifiseer, maar gevind dat die bedrag skuld wat jou eks-man jou gelos het honderd keer groter was. 

Make no mistake, this sort of thinking and how we speak is a clear and deliberate trap from the enemy—primarily because it is contrary to what Scripture says, and who our Father is, who our Husband is. No, I am not trying to be “spiritually weird” here and encourage us to all go out and buy whatever we want because our spiritual “Sugar Daddy” will pay for it! But let’s each be very careful that we don’t fall into thinking like the world, speaking like the world and therefore worrying like the world does—wondering about how we will make it financially—when the Bible promises that God will take care of all not just some of our needs, but based on His riches!

Maak geen fout nie, hiedie soort denkwyse en hoe ons praat is ‘n duidelike en doelbewuste lokval van die vyand—hoofsaaklik omdat dit in teenstryding is met wat Die Woord sê, en wie ons Vader is, wie ons Man is. Nee, ek probeer nie om “spiritueel vreemd” hier te wees nie en ons aanmoedig om uit te gaan en te koop wat ons wil hê omdat ons spirituele “Troetel Oompie” daarvoor sal betaal! Maar laat ons elkeen baie versigtig wees dat ons nie val om soos die wêreld te dink nie, soos die wêreld te praat nie en ons te bekommer soos wat die wêreld doen nie—en te wonder hoe ons dit finansieël sal maak—wanneer die Bybel belowe dat God in elke  behoeftes sal voorsien nie net sommige nie, maar gebaseer op Sy rykdom! 

“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

“En my God sal in elke behoefte van julle ryklik voorsien volgns sy wonderbaarlike rykdom in Christus Jesus” (Filippense 4:19).

Amplified: “And my God will liberally supply (fill until full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Bybel vir Almal: “My God sal vir julle alles gee wat julle nodig het, want Hy het baie wonderlike dinge wat Hy vir ons wil gee, dinge wat van Christus Jesus afkom.”

Living Bible: “And it is He who will supply all your needs from his riches in glory because of what Christ Jesus has done for us.”

Nuwe Lewende Vertaling: “Omdat Christus Jesus dit verdien het, sal my God uit sy heerlike rykdom vir julle voorsien in elke behoefte wat julle het.”

Message: “You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus.”

Die Boodskap: “Hy sal vir julle sorg deur vir julle te gee wat julle nodig het. Dit sal Hy doen omdat julle aan Jesus behoort.

If you and I can believe that what Jesus did for us is enough to cover our salvation, and maybe a few other areas of our life, then why not believe Him for everything, including our financial needs, wants, and even our desires because it says that He longs to give them to us? Do you believe that He only covered most of your sins, but not all of them? Then how could He possibly not provide all you need financially, especially when He also says,

As jy en ek kan glo dat wat Jesus vir ons gedoen het genoeg is om ons redding te dek, en miskien ‘n paar ander gebiede van ons lewens, dan waarom nie in Hom glo vir alles, insluitende ons finansiële behoeftes, wat ons wil hê, en selfs ons begeertes omdat dit sê dat Hy gretig is om dit vir ons te gee? Glo jy dat Hy net meeste van ons sondes gedek het, maar nie almal? Dan hoe kan Hy moontlik nie in al jou finansiële behoeftes voorsien nie, spesiaal wanneer Hy ook sê,

“Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; how blessed are all those who long for Him” (Isaiah 30:18).

“Tog is die HERE gretig om julle genadig te wees en wil Hy Hom oor julle ontferm: Die here is ‘n God wat reg laat geskied, en dit gaan goed met elkeen wat op Hom vertrou” (Jesaja 30:18).

In addition to your own peace of mind and well-being, there’s another reason why we must shift our trust entirely to Him, because God says that without faith it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6). So, if we look at our finances without faith and blurt out to everyone, “We can’t afford it” or “I don’t know how we are going to make it” or “I’m on a tight or limited budget” or even saying “I have to watch my budget,” it is like a slap in the face to our heavenly Father and it grieves our Husband reflecting how poor of a Man He is. God never says you need to budget the amount of sin Jesus’ blood can cover, nor that He has limited resources to cover you financially. Let’s look at this in another way.

Ter aanvulling van jou eie gemoedsrus en welstand, is daar ‘n ander rede waarom ons ons vertroue heeltemal op Hom moet skuif, omdat God sê dat sonder geloof dit onmoontlik is om te doen wat God wil ( Hebreërs 11:6). So, as ons na ons finasies kyk sonder geloof en aan almal uitblaker, “Ons kan dit nie bekostig nie” of “Ek weet nie hoe ons dit gaan maak nie” of “ek is op ‘n knap begroting ,” is dit soos ‘n klap in die gesig vir ons hemelse Vader en dit grief ons Man en weerspieël hoe arm ‘n Man Hy is. God sê nooit dat jy hoef te begroot oor die hoeveelheid sonde wat Jesus se bloed kan dek, nog minder dat Hy beperkete hulpbronne het om jou finansieël te dek nie. Kom ons kyk hierna op ‘n ander manier.   

How would you feel if your son or daughter told people, like their friends or their teachers at school, that they didn’t know if they would be able to “afford” to eat lunch that day; maybe because they were on a budget, when they never asked you for lunch money, or they did but didn’t trust you’d provide enough for the next week, so they decided they couldn’t afford to trust you?

Hoe sou jy voel as jou seun of dogter vir ander mense vertel, soos hulle vriende of hulle onderwysers by die skool, dat hulle nie weet of hulle dit kan “bekostig”om middagete daardie dag te eet nie; miskien omdat hulle op ‘n begroting is, wanneer hulle nooit vir die middagete geld gevra het nie, of hulle het maar hulle het nie vertrou dat jy genoeg vir die volgende week sou voorsien nie, so hulle het besluit dat hulle dit nie kon bekostig om jou te vertrou nie?

What if your children walked around the mall with torn up shoes, and when someone stopped to stare, they said they were on a “budget” so they weren’t sure if they’d be able to afford to buy the new shoes that they needed? How would you feel if your children shamed you like that? And what would their friends (or people they met) think of you as a parent? Wouldn’t they be outraged that you should be able to at least provide for your child’s needs, especially if your children had been telling everyone that you were rich and generous? Of course!

Wat as jou kinders in die winkelsentrum rondgeloop het met gebreekte skoene, en wanneer iemand stop om te staar, het hulle gesê hulle was op ‘n “begroting” so hulle was nie seker of hulle die nuwe skoene wat hulle nodig gehad het kon bekostig om te koop nie? Hoe sal jy voel as jou kinders jou so in die verleentheid stel? En wat sou hulle vriende (of mense wat hulle ontmoet het) dink van jou as ‘n ouer? Sou hulle nie verontwaardig wees dat jy ten minste in jou kind se behoeftes behoort te voorsien nie, spesiaal as jou kinders vir almal vertel dat jy ryk en vrygewig is? Natuurlik!

It’s exactly the same as when you shame your heavenly Father. When you tell people you’re a believer, a child of God, yet then you continue to slander His good name and shame Him by telling people that, though you are a child of God (again that you profess to everyone), He is unable or unwilling to provide you with what you need, that you can barely make it, and you don’t know where you will get enough money to pay your bills. This has to be a painful slap in the face to the One whom we profess to love and trust, and who owns everything here on earth—whose resources are endless.

Dit is presies dieselfde as wanneer jy jou hemelse Vader in die verleentheid stel. Wanneer jy vir mense sê jy is ‘n gelowige, ‘n kind van God, tog gaan jy voort om Sy goeie naam te laster en Hom in die verleentheid te stel deur vir mense te vertel dat, alhoewel jy ‘n kind van God is (weer wat jy aan almal verklaar), is Hy nie in staat of onwillig om jou te voorsien met wat jy nodig het, dat jy skaars kan uitkom, en dat jy nie weet waar jy die geld gaan kry om jou rekeninge te betaal nie. Dit moet ‘n pynlike klap in die gesig wees van die Een wat ons verklaar om lief te hê en te vertrou, en wie alles hier op die aarde besit—wie se hulpbronne eindeloos is.

Okay, so maybe you don’t go around telling everyone, you just keep it to yourself, but your appearance shouts the same message to everyone. Your clothes are old and you haven’t bought anything new in years, you let the roots grow out in your hair and you don’t keep your hair cut in a current style. And your reason for not looking your best is because you see that if you take care of any of your own needs, you’re sure you won’t have enough money for shoes for your children or you’re sure you won’t be able to pay your bills. The sad truth is, you’re the picture of poverty, even though you have a heavenly Father who has all that you need. A Husband who longs to treat you as His bride.

Reg, so miskien gaan jy nie rond en vertel vir almal nie, jy hou dit net vir jouself, maar jou voorkoms blaker dieselfde boodskap vir almal uit. Jou klere is oud en jy het nie iets nuuts in jare gekoop nie, jy laat die wortels uitgroei in jou hare en jy hou nie jou hare in ‘n huidige styl gesny nie. En jou rede dat jy nie jou beste lyk nie is omdat jy sien dat as jy in jou eie behoftes voorsien, jy seker is dat jy nie genoeg geld sal hê vir skoene vir jou kinders of jy is seker jy sal nie in staat wees om jou rekenige te betaal ne. Die treurige waarheid is, jy is die prentjie van armoede, selfs al het jy ‘n hemelse Vader wat alles het wat jy nodig het. ‘n Man wat gretig is om jou as Sy bruid te behandel.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

“Om te glo, is om seker te wees van die dinge wat ons hoop, om oortuig te wees van die dinge wat ons nie sien nie” (Hebreërs 11:1).

In order to break free from the poverty mentality, you need to begin taking care of what He’s already given you: your appearance, your home, your lawn, your car (inside and out), and also your children—since each reflects Who has faithfully taken care of you. Then whenever you have anything you need, or even something you want, just simply ask your Father or your Husband for it—He is just waiting for you to ask! Trust me, He wants to bless you with good things, just so long as you take care of what He has entrusted to you, and you show your gratitude by what comes out of your mouth; what you say to others, and by how you live.

Om in staat te wees om los te breek van die armoede mentalitieit, moet jy begin om om te sien na die dinge wat Hy jou alreeds gegee het: jou voorkoms, jou huis, jou gras, jou motor (binne en buite), en ook jou kinders—aangesien elkeen weerspieël Wie getrou na jou omgesien het. Dan wanneer ookal jy enigiets nodig het, of iets wat jy wil hê, vra jy eenvoudig jou Vader of jou Man daarvoor—Hy wag net vir jou om te vra! Vertrou my, Hy wil jou seën met goeie dinge, solank jy omsien na dit wat Hy jou mee toevertrou het, en jy wys jou dankbaarheid deur wat uit jou mond uitkom, wat jy vir ander sê, en deur hoe jy lewe.

Gratitude is all He asks in return; simply praising Him to others, sharing how awesomely giving your Father is, letting them know how lovingly generous your Husband is—so that people you know or meet will also want a relationship with the One Whom you admire and trust! It’s very important that you never forget Who it is who gave the blessings to you either, because it says, “… you may say in your heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.’ But you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day” (Deuteronomy 8:17–18). The world believes you need a good education, a good paying job or some earthly inheritance to live abundantly—but that’s only because they’re attempting to do everything on their own—independent from the One who longs to care for and love them.

Dankbaarheid is al wat Hy in ruil daarvoor vra; om eenvoudig Sy lof by ander te besing, te deel hoe ontsagwekkend vrygewig Hy is en hulle te laat weet hoe liefdevol grootmoedig jou Man is— sodat mense wat jy ken of ontmoet ook ‘n verhouding sal wil hê met die Een Wie jy bewonder en vertrou! Dit is baie belangrik dat jy ook nooit vergeet Wie dit is wat die seëninge  vir jou gee nie, omdat dit sê, “...jy kan dalk dink: my krag en my sterk hande het vir my hierdie rykdom verwerf. Maar jy moet die HERE jou God nie vergeet nie, want dit is Hy wat jou die krag gee om die rykdom te verwerf. So hou Hy die verbond in stand wat Hy met ‘n eed aan jou voorvaders beloof het. So is dit nou nog” (Deuternomium 8:17-18). Die wêreld glo dat jy ‘n goeie opvoeding nodig het, ‘n werk wat goed betaal of een of ander aardse erfporsie om oorvloedig te lewe—maar dit is net omdat hulle poog om alles op hulle eie te doen—onafhanklik van die Een wat hunker om hulle lief te hê en na hulle om te sien.

Sadly, when a Christian believes they are poor, their countenance, appearance, and what they say and do always reflects poverty. Yet, if a person believes they are rich (according to His riches in Christ Jesus) then their countenance, appearance, and everything that they say and do will radiate wealth!

Treurig, dat wanneer ‘n Christen glo dat hulle arm is, hulle gelaat, voorkoms, en wat hulle sê en doen weerspieël alyd armoede. Tog, as ‘n persoon glo hulle is ryk (volgens Sy wonderbaarlike rykdom in Christus Jesus) dan sal hulle gelaat, voorkoms, en alles wat hulle sê en doen rykdom uistraal!

Financial Testimony #1
Finansiële Getuienis #1

“My Husband is Rich!
“My Man is Ryk!”

While Erin was visiting me, she told me a story I’d read about before, but hadn’t heard directly from her until then. So, it’s with her permission that I share it here:

Toe Erin my besoek het het sy vir my ‘n storie vertel wat ek alreeds voorheen gehoor he, maar ek het dit nie direk van haar af gehoor tot dan nie. So dit is met haar toestemming dat ek dit hier deel:

My husband used to get irritated with me because I always told everyone that we were “rich!” Saying I was rich all began years ago when I saw a very poor tall black man who was trying to sell some pecans in a fast food hamburger restaurant in order to buy something to eat. When they said no to him at the counter, I went up and asked if I could buy him a meal. He said, “No, that’s okay” after looking at me, then looking down at the floor. Without thinking, I said, “Well, my husband is very rich and he would want me to buy you something to eat.” So, I paid for his meal and went back to my table. What I said was not a lie; in comparison to what this man had—even my earthly husband was very rich!

My man het geirriteerd met my geword omdat ek altyd vir almal vertel het dat ons “ryk” was om te sê dat ons ryk was het begin toe ek jare gelede ‘n arm swart man gesien het wat probeer het om aan iemand pekanneute te verkoop in ‘n kitskos hamburger restaurant sodat hy iets kon  koop om te eet. Toe hulle by die toonbank vir hom nee sê, het ek op gegaan en gevra of ek vir hom ‘n maaltyd kan koop. Hy het gesê, “Nee, dit is reg” nadat hy vir my gekyk het, en na die vloer gekyk het. Sonder om te dink, het ek gesê, “Wel my man is baie ryk en hy sou wou hê ek moet vir jou iets koop om te eet.” So, ek het vir die maaltyd betaal en terug gegaan na my tafel toe. Wat ek gesê het was nie ‘n leun nie; in vergelyking met wat hierdie man gehad het—selfs my aardse man was baie ryk!

Later, when the man got his tray of food, he walked up and asked if he could sit with me. I could smell that he reeked of alcohol and filth, but I said, “Please do.” Without looking up, keeping his eyes on his food, he asked me, “Why did you do that? Why did you buy me this food?” I told him that God had sent me there because he was hungry, and God just wanted him to know that He loved him. I said that I was on my way to church for the Revival that night and really wasn’t even hungry because I’d had dinner, but I sensed I needed to come in and sit to wait since God had sent me. Then I told him when I heard him trying to sell the pecans for some food, I knew why God had sent me there that night—God loved him and He wanted him to know that He cared for him very much.

Later, toe die man sy skinkbord kos gekry het, het hy na my toe geloop en gevra of hy by my kon sit. Ek kon ruik dat hy na die ene alkohol en vullis ruik, maar ek het gesê, “ Sit asseblief.” Sonder om op te kyk, en sy oë op sy kos gehou, het hy my gevra, “Waarom het jy dit gedoen? Waarom het jy vir my hierdie kos gekoop?” Ek het vir hom gesê dat God my hiernatoe gestuur het omdat hy hongr was, en dat God wou hom laat weet dat Hy lief is vir hom. Ek het gesê dat ek oppad kerk toe was vir die Herlewing daardie aand en ek was regtig nie eens honger nie omdat ek aandete gehad het, maar ek het aangevoel dat ek nodig gehad het om in te kom en te sit en wag aangesien God my gestuur het. Toe het ek hom vertel dat toe ek hom hoor probeer pekanneute verkoop vir kos, het ek geweet waarom God my daardie aand gestuur het—God is lief vir hom en Hy wou gehad het dat hy moet weet dat Hy baie vir hom omgee. 

The man took another bite then asked me about the revival he’d seen going on, and when I was done and he was done eating, he said, “I’ll go to church with you.” I replied, “But there are no strings attached to me buying your meal. You don’t need to go anywhere or do anything. He simply loves you.” His reply was, “If you’re willing to take me, I want to go.” As we walked out, it was then that I realized everyone in the restaurant hadn’t been talking, but instead had been listening to our entire conversation.

Die man het nog ‘n hap geneem en my toe gevra oor die Herlewing wat hy gesien het aangaan, en toe ek klaar was en hy klaar geeet het, het hy gesê, “ek sal saam jou kerk toe gaan.” Ek het geantwoord, “Maar daar is geen bybedoelings aan die maaltyd wat ek vir jou gekoop het ne. Jy hoef nie êrens te gaan of enigiets te doen nie. Hy is eenvoudig lief vir jou.” Sy antwoord was, “As jy gewillig is om my te neem, wil ek gaan.” Soos wat ons uitgeloop het, het ek besef dat almal in die restaurant nie gepraat het nie, maar het eerder na ons hele gesprek geluister.

As we walked out to my van and he got in, I saw every eye was still on us, including the staff of the restaurant, many of whom had come out from the kitchen to witness what was going on. Since we were late (this being a huge, worldwide revival in Pensacola, Florida going on late in the 1990s when people would get in line before sunrise just to get in), I knew there wouldn’t be any parking available (possibly forcing us to walk several blocks), but as I turned the corner suddenly I noticed a parking spot right by the front door (God had gone before us).

Soos wat ons na my vervoer wa gelop het en hy ingeklim het, het ek gesien dat elke oog nog op ons gerig was, insluitende die staf van die restaurant, baie wat uit die kombuis uit gekom het om te getuig van wat besig was om aan te gaan. Aangesien ons laat was (dit wat ‘n groot, wëreldwye herlewing in Pensacola, Florida wat teruggaan het na die laat 1990,s toe mense voor sonsopkoms in die lyn sou staan net om in te kom), ek het geweet dat daar geen parkering beskikbaar sou wees nie (en ons moontik sou forseer wees om menigte blokke ver te loop), maar toe ek om die draai gaan het ek skielik ‘n parkeer ruimte reg by die voordeur gesien (God het voor ons uit gegaan). 

When I walked through the doors with this heavily soiled black man you would have thought I had entered with a king! The ushers came over and gave him a royal welcome, put their arms around him and opened the main door, and as they did a couple were walking out and said they were leaving, so the usher walked him down the aisle and seated him just a few rows from the front of the church. I turned and headed up to the balcony, finding a space along the side where I could stand to watch. At the end of the service this man was the first at the altar. I saw him on his knees weeping, and that evening he was transformed after accepting His love that changes lives.

Toe ek deur die deure loop met hierdie baie vuil swart man sou jy gedink het ek het met ‘n koning ingeloop! Die deurwagters het vir hom ‘n koninklike verwelkoming gegee, hulle arms om hom gesit en die hoofdeur oopgemaak, soos wat hulle dit gedoen het het ‘n paartjie uitgeloop en gesê dat hulle gaan, toe vergesel die deurwagter hom by die gang af en het hom ‘n paar rye van die voorkant van die kerk laat sit. Ek het omgedraai en was oppad na die balkon toe, ek het‘n spasie langs die kant gevind van waar ek kon staan om te kyk. Aan die einde van die diens was hierdie man eerste  by die preekstoel. Ek het hom op sy knieë gesien ween, en daardie aand was hy hervorm nadat hy Sy liefde wat lewens verander aanvaar het. 

A minute later I felt a hand on my shoulder, and when I turned, I saw it was the senior usher who sat me down to “reprimand” me, warning me about my foolishness and the danger I’d put myself in by driving this man to the Revival. Later when I got home, my husband and sons also made me promise I would never do anything like that again. Though I was disappointed that everyone failed to see this was a decision that changed the course of eternity for one soul, I knew in my heart that something amazing had happened, something that was all due to having experienced His love, knowing and hearing His voice, and being in a position to be used to share His love with someone so worthy. Knowing we were rich, God called me to play a very small part in witnessing His power and love to save that man’s soul, where he finally experienced His love and His peace.

‘n Minuut later het ek ‘n hand op my skouer gevoel, en toe ek omdraai, het ek gesien die was die senior deurwagter wat my laat sit het om my te “berispe”, en my gewaarsku het dat ek dwaas was en die gevaar waarin ek myself geplaas het om hierdie man na die herlewing toe te bestuur. Later toe ek by die huis kom, het my man en seuns my ook gemaak belowe dat ek nooit weer so iets sou doen nie. Alhoewel ek teleurgesteld was dat almal misluk het om te sien dat dit ‘n besluit was wat die koers van die ewigheid vir een siel verander het, het ek in my hart geweet dat iets ongeloofliks gebeur het, iets wat alles te danke was om Sy liefde te ervaar, om Sy stem te ken en te hoor, en om in ‘n posisie  te wees om gebruik te word om Sy liefde met iemand wat so waardig is te deel. Wetend dat ons ryk is, het God my geroep om ‘n baie klein deel te speel om van Sy krag en liefde te getuig om daardie man se siel te red, waar Hy uiteindelik Sy liefde en Sy vrede ervaar het.

The point in Erin’s testimony is this: Our finances and wealth are not so we can store up riches on earth, but so that we can be used by God (in big and small ways) to advance His kingdom. Whatever the man’s meal cost or the danger she’d put herself in is really nothing in comparison to the reward she was able to witness. But, unless you are faithful in small things, you have the relationship with the Lord that enables you to hear and follow His lead, and you are willing to invest whatever you have, even and especially if you’re lacking in anything right now, then you will never be given significant wealth that He wants to entrust you with in order to help bless others!

Die punt van Erin se getuienis is dit: Ons finansies en rykdom is nie sodat ons rykdom op die aarde kan opgaar nie, maar sodat ons deur God gebruik kan word (op groot en klein maniere) om Sy koningkryk te bevorder. Watookal die man se maaltyd gekos het of die gevaar waarin sy haarself geplaas het is regtig niks in vergelyking met die beloing wat sy in staat was om van te getuig nie, Maar, tensy jy getrou is in klein dingetjies, het jy die verhouding met die Here wat jou in staat stel om te hoor en Sy leiding te volg, en jy gewillig is om te belê in watookal jy het, selfs en spesiaal as jy nou in enigiets ‘n tekort het, dan sal jy nooit beduidende rykdom gege word wat Hy aan jou wil toevertrou sodat jy kan help om ander te seën nie!  

“And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed.

“Toe kom die een wat een goue muntstuk ontvang het, en sê: ‘Meneer, ek ken u en weet dat u 'n harde man is, wat oes waar u nie gesaai het nie, en pluk waar u nie geplant het nie.

And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered and said to him, ‘you wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed.

Omdat ek bang was, het ek u muntstuk in die grond gaan begrawe. Hier het u u geld terug.’ Toe sê sy eienaar vir hom: ‘Jy is 'n slegte en 'n lui slaaf! Jy het geweet dat ek oes waar ek nie gesaai het nie, en pluk waar ek nie geplant het nie.

Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away” (Matthew 25:24–29).

Dan moes jy my geld in die bank gesit het, en ek sou dit by my koms met rente teruggekry het. Vat die muntstuk van hom af weg en gee dit aan die een wat die tien het. Aan elkeen wat het, sal meer gegee word, en hy sal oorvloed hê; maar van hom wat nie het nie, sal ook die bietjie wat hy het, weggevat word” (Matteus 25:24-29).