Hoofstuk 12 “Wankel op die Rand van Voorspoed”

“But the humble will inherit the land

And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.”

— Psalm 37:11

 

“Dié wat nou verdruk word,

 sal die land besit en hulle verlustig in hulle welvaart.”

— Psalms 37:11

 

There’s something about to take place in all of our lives—can you feel it? While at the same time, there’s something also happening that is trying to stop it—can you see it?

Daar is iets wat op die punt staan om plaas te vind in almal van ons se lewens—kan jy dit voel? Terwyl op dieselfe tyd, is daar iets wat ook  probeer om dit te stop om te gebeur— kan jy dit sien?

Many have noticed both. Just recently I received an email from a friend saying that for the first time, she can’t pay her taxes that are due. I’ve seen the same thing creeping up on many of the faithful women who tithe, but who are, for the first time, not able to pay their bills. Maybe you’ve gotten an overdraft notice from your bank; you’ve gotten a past due letter from your credit card or mortgage company. So, what’s happening?

Baie het albei opgemerk. Net onlangs het ek ‘n epos van ‘n vriendin ontvang wat gesê het dat vir die eerste keer,  sy nie haar belasting betaal kan wat verskuldig is nie. Ek het dieselfde ding gesien wat opkruip op baie van die getroue vrouens wat tiendes gee, maar wie, vir die eerste keer, nie in staat is om hulle rekeninge te betaal nie. Miskien het jy ‘n oortrekking  kennisgewing van die bank af gekry; jy het ‘n agterstallige brief van jou kredietkaart of verband maatskappy gekry. So, wat is besig om te gebeur?

We are teetering on the brink of ruin or prosperity.
Ons wankel op die rand van ondergang of voorspoed.

The question is, which way is our mountain going to fall: into the sea, or will it come crashing down on top of us? That’s the picture the Lord gave me, when I asked Him to show me what’s happening. We’ve envisioned our mountain of debt falling into the sea, seeing ourselves debt free and living in prosperity. Unfortunately, for some, the mountain is about fall forward on us. An avalanche of rock and mud, and with it all the dreams will be left under a pile of rubble, as we sit, surrounded by shame, pain, and confusion—wondering what happened.

Die vraag is, watter kant gaan ons berg val: in die see, of gaan dit op ons neerstort? Dit is die prentjie wat die Here vir my gegee het, toe ek Hom gevra het om vir my te wys wat besig is om te gebeur. Ons het ons berg van skuld wat in die see val voorgestel onsself skuldvry gesien en dat ons in voorspoed lewe. Ongelukkig vir sommige, is die berg op die punt om vorentoe op ons te val. ‘n Stortvloed van rots en modder, en saam met dit sal al die drome onder ‘n hoop puin gelos word, soos wat ons sit, omring deur skande, pyn, en verwarring—en wonder wat gebeur het.

Which way will your mountain fall?

Watter kant sal jou berg val?

Mine, I am determined, will fall into the sea. Though the enemy wants to use fear and intimidation to make me believe I am headed for ruin, not blessings, I refuse to believe it, and the way to prove my trust in Him is through my actions. The same goes for you; what you do is going to prove what you believe. It is not what we say; it’s what we do that is the determining factor.

Myne, is ek vasbeslote, sal in die see val. Alhowel die vyand vrees en intimidasie wil gebruik om my te maak glo dat ek oppad is na my ondergang toe, nie seëninge nie, ek weier om dit te glo, en die manier om my vertroue in Hom te bewys is deur my aksies. Dieselfde gaan vir jou; wat jy doen gaan bewys wat jy glo. Dit is nie wat ons sê nie; dit is wat ons doen wat die beslissende faktor is.

Yet, what we must do is terribly difficult, and for me to say it isn’t difficult wouldn’t be honest. When faced with financial and/or personal ruin, each of us must come, first, to the place of searching where we went wrong. It is called humility—a character quality that is almost absent in the world today. Unlike the Psalmist who asked God to “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way” (Psalm 139:23–24), today most say “‘I have done no wrong,’” as the adulteress said in Proverbs 30:20. Or they find someone or something else to blame.

Tog, wat ons moet doen is verskriklik moeilik, en vir my om te sê dit is nie moeilik nie sal nie eerlik wees nie. Wanneer ons finansiële en/of peroonlike ondergang in die gesig staar, moet elkeen van ons, eerstens, op die plek kom waar ons soek vir waar ons verkeerd gegaan het. Dit word nederigheid genoem—’n karakter kwaliteit wat amper afwesig is in die wêreld vandag. Ander as die Psalmdigter wie vir God gevra het “Deurgrond my, o God, deurgrond my hart, ondersoek my, sien tog my onrus raak. Kyk of ek nie op die verkeerde pad is nie en lei my op die beproefde pad!” Psalms 193:23-24), Vandag Sê meeste “‘ek het niks verkeerd gedoen nie,” soos die owerspelige gesê het in Spreuke 30:20. Of hulle vind iemand of iets anders om te blameer.

Yet, this is not the characteristic of those who are His. Each time I have come up against something that has the potential to ruin me, I instinctively go to the Lord to see where I have gone wrong. Time and again, I’m thankful when He tells me that I have not made a mistake, but to simply trust Him. But when I began hearing that close friends of mine, whom I’d ministered to, were coming up financially short, unable to pay their bills, that’s when the Lord CONVICTED me of where I had gone wrong.

Tog, dit is nie die karaktertrekke van die wat Syne is nie. Elke keer wat ek teen iets gekom het wat die potensiaal het om my te ruïneer, gaan ek instinktief na die Here toe om te sien waar ek verkeerd gegaan het. Keer op keer, is ek dankbaar wanneer Hy vir my sê dat ek nie ‘n fout begaan het nie, maar om Hom eenvoudig te vertrou. Maar toe ek begin hoor dat intieme vriende van my, aan wie ek geminister het, finansiële gebrek ly, nie in staat om hulle rekeninge te betaal nie, was dit toe dat die Here my OORTUIG het oor waar ek verkeerd gegaan het.

There was no shame in the revelation, none at all; I felt only conviction. Conviction is different, because it’s a strong desire to make things right at any cost, whereas “condemnation” is hopelessness coupled with blame and shame. Condemnation, therefore, is not from God. God convicts; the enemy condemns.

Daar was geen skande in hierdie openbaring nie, glad niks nie; al wat ek gevoel het was oortuiging. Oortuiging is anders, want dit is ‘n sterk begeerte om dinge ten enige koste reg te maak, waar “kondemnasie” hopeloosheid is gekoppel aan balmering en skande. Daarom is kondemnasie,  nie van God af nie. God oortuig; die vyand oordeel.  

Immediately after I was convicted, suddenly, the light went on, and I realized that in my quest to move my mountain of debt, I failed to teach you, my readers (failing to feed the flock He has entrusted to me), the proper principles about giving. I failed to share with my closest friends the foundation to moving mountains of debt. Specifically, I failed to clearly explain that tithing begins with giving to your storehouse. I suppose that I assumed I was teaching you “by example” and that was enough. It wasn’t. Not only did it prove to almost bankrupt my own ministry, even worse, it caused a lot of you (who were ignorant of this scheme of the enemy) to also come to the place of financial ruin or collapse, due primarily to a “lack of knowledge” when it comes to giving to your storehouse.

Onmiddellik nadat ek oortuig was, het die ligte, skielik aan gegaan, en ek het besef dat in my soeke om my berg skuld te versit, ek misluk het om vir julle my lesers, die regte beginsels van gee, te leer (misluk om die kudde wat Hy aan my toevertrou het te voed.)  Ek het misluk om met my intieme vriende die grondslag om berge van skuld te versit te deel. Ek veronderstel dat ek aangeneem het dat ek jou “deur ‘n voorbeeld te wees” geleer het en dit was genoeg. Dit was nie. Nie net het dit bewys om amper my hele bediening bankrot te maak nie, selfs erger, dit het vir baie van julle veroorsaak (wat onkundig is met die gekonkel vand die vyand) om ook op ‘n plek van finansiële ondergang of ineenstorting te kom, hoofsaaklik as gevolg van ‘n “gebrek aan kennis” wanneer dit kom by die gee aan jou voorraadkamer.  

The only readers who are going to make it through, avoiding a catastrophe, are those who learned the principles and practiced the principles of giving to your storehouse, which comes with God’s warranty—tithing and giving cheerfully equals prosperity! That’s His promise.

Die enigste lesers wat dit deur gaan maak, en ‘n katastrofe vermy, is die wat die beginsel geleer het en toegepas het om aan jou voorraadkamer te gee, wat met God se waarborg kom—tiendes en om blymoedig te gee is gelykstaande aan voorspoed! Dit is Sy belofte.

Did you know that tithing is an act of obedience that always appears to be impossible to do? No one who faithfully tithes will tell you that it was easy when they began tithing. Every one of us looked at our income, what we brought in, and mentally (or often on paper) calculated, only to see immediately that if we tithed, we wouldn’t be able to pay our bills. Yet, we each chose to trust God by what He SAID, not by what we SAW. That’s called faith. “And without faith, it is impossible to please God…” (Hebrews 11:6 NIV).

Het jy geweet dat tiendes ‘n daad is van gehoorsaamheid wat onmoontlik lyk om te doen? Niemand wat getrou tiendes gee sal vir jou sê dit was maklik toe hulle begin het om tiendes te gee nie. Almal van ons het na ons inkomste gekyk, wat ons ingebring het, en verstandelik (of dikwels of papier) berekent, net om onmiddellik te sien dat as ons ons tiende gegee het, ons nie in staat sou wees om ons rekeninge te betaal nie. Tog, ons het elkeen gekies om op God te vertrou deur wat Hy GESÊ het, nie deur wat ons GESIEN het nie. Dit word geloof genoem. “ As 'n mens nie glo nie, is dit onmoontlik om te doen wat God wil…” (Hebreërs 11:6 Afr 83).

So, once each of us stepped out and tithed to our storehouse, we discovered that, not surprisingly, we had more than enough! We found, time and again, we could not afford NOT to tithe!!

So, elkeen van ons het uitgetree en aan ons voorraadkamer tiendes gegee, ons het ontdek dat, nie verrassend nie, dat ons meer as genoeg gehad het! Ons het gevind, keer op keer, dat ons dit nie kon bekostig om NIE ons tiendes te gee nie!!

So, what then is your storehouse? Your storehouse is simply where you are being spiritually fed. Unfortunately, many of us begin tithing, then soon become legalistic and religious with where we tithe.

So, wat is dan jou voorraadkamer? Jou voorraadkamer is eenvoudig waar jy geestelik gevoed word. Ongelukkig, het baie van ons begin om ons tiendes te gee, en gou begin legalisties en godsdienstig word met waar ons ons tiendes gee.

When I was going to church, I was being spiritually fed there, week after week, so it was easy to know where to tithe. Even though I wasn’t fed well, I was fed. Yet, the real struggle came when I let go of my church, which is a struggle in and of itself. First you wonder what everyone, including yourself, will think, when you’re not going to church. That is followed by dealing with those who often begin to judge you.

Toe ek kerk toe gegaan het, was ek week na week, daar geestelik gevoed, so dit was maklik om te weet waar om tiendes te gee. Selfs al was ek nie goed gevoed nie, ek was gevoed. Tog, die regte gesukkel het gekom toe ek my kerk laat gaan het, wat ‘n gesukkel was dit in opsig self.. Eerstens wonder jy wat almal, insluitend jouself, sal dink, wanneer jy nie kerk toe gaan nie. Dit word gevolg deur af te reken met die wat dikwels begin om jou te oordeel. 

Soon after I let go of my church, I got my first paycheck. So, like I do with everything, I simply asked my HH where to tithe. Immediately I heard, “Tithe to RMI.” Yet I thought, “How stupid.” First, it’s not a church. Next, I thought, why would I take my paycheck from RMI (being my main income) only to turn around and give back a tenth? How ridiculous. But I went ahead and did it anyway, and that’s when God confirmed to me that this was exactly what all pastors or people who work for churches do.

Gou na ek my kerk laat gaan het, het ek my eerste salaris gekry. So, soos wat ek doen met alles, het ek eenvoudig my HM gevra waar om my tiende te gee. Onmiddellik het ek gehoor, “Gee jou tiende vir HMI.” Tog het ek gedink, “Hoe onnosel.” Eerstens, dit is nie ‘n kerk nie. Volgende, het ek gedink, waarom sou ek my salaris van HMI neem (wat my hoof inkomste was) net om om te draai en ‘n tiende terug te gee? Maar ek het voort gegaan en dit in elk geval gedoen, en dit is toe wat God aan my bevestig het dat dit presies was wat alle pastore of mense wat vir kerke werk doen.

*Important note: One thing I learned early on from Erin is that following the Lord, and obeying God, often doesn’t make sense. It’s impossible to understand fully, until after you obey. Prior to being obedient (taking that step of faith), our minds are blind to understanding. Again, understanding fully only happens after you obey; that’s when He will open your eyes to help you understand why, and it will make sense.

*Belangrike nota: Een ding wat ek vroeg by Erin geleer het is dat om die Here te volg, en God te gehoorsaam, maak dikwels nie sin nie. Dit is onmoontlik om ten volle te verstaan, totdat na jy gehoorsaam. Voordat jy gehoorsaam (daardie tree van geloof neem), is ons gedagtes blind om te verstaan. Weer, om ten volle te verstaan gebeur net na jy gehoorsaam; dit is wanneer Hy jou oë sal oopmaak om jou te help om te verstaan waarom, en dit sal sin maak.

So, after I followed what He said, immediately I envisioned several of my previous pastors dropping their tithe in the offering, week after week, giving back to where they’d been paid. Thus, it wasn’t a strange thing to do at all. Yet, I thought, it was easier for them. They tithe to a “real” church, with a real building. However, God showed me that RMI was my true storehouse, because RMI was where I was being fed.

So, na ek gevolg het wat Hy gesê het, het ek onmiddellik verskeie van my pastore voorgestel hoe hulle week na week hulle tiendes in die offerande gooi, en teruggee waar hulle betaal was. Dus, dit was glad nie ‘n vreemde ding om te doen nie. Tog, het ek gedink, dit was makliker vir hulle. Hulle gee hulle tiendes aan ‘n regte kerk, met ‘n regte gebou. Nietemin, God het my gewys dat HMI my ware voorraadkamer was, omdat HMI was waar ek gevoed was.

When I was attending church, I only benefited slightly, twice a week. However, since coming to RMI, I was fed daily and fed with much more “meat,” as it says in Hebrews 5:12 NLT. Like many of you, before coming here, “You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food [meat].”

Toe ek kerk bygewoon het, het ek net ‘n bietjie voordeel getrek, twee keer per week. Nietemin, sedert ek na HMI toe gekom het, en ek daagliks gevoed was met baie meer “vleis,” soos wat dit sê in Hebreërs 5:12 NLV. Soos baie van julle, voordat julle hiernatoe gekom het, “ As ’n mens dink aan hoe lank julle reeds gelowiges is, moes julle eintlik al self onderrig in die geloof gegee het. En nou het ’n mens werklikwaar weer nodig om julle die mees elementêre aspekte van die woord van God te leer! Julle is soos babatjies wat nog net melk kan drink en nie vaste kos kan inneem nie.”

Soon after, I began being spiritually fed for the first time—right after I read Erin’s first book. Then, just like the verse says above, I did find myself able to teach others. As I began reading the praise reports and all the testimonies—even being fed by the many I had submitted myself and a few books I had personally written—I was no longer starving for the truth, and I began teaching more and more women.

Kort daarna, het ek begin om vir die eerste keer geestelik gevoed te wees—net na ek Erin se eerste boek gelees het. Toe, net soos wat die vers hierbo sê, het ek myself gevind om in staat te wees om ander te leer. Soos wat ek die lofverslae en al die getuienisse begin lees het—selfs gevoed deur die vele wat ek myself ingedien het en ‘n paar boeke wat ek persoonlik geskryf het—was ek nie meer honger vir die waarheid nie, en ek het meer en meer vrouens begin leer. 

When I asked for Him to enlighten me more, He went on to remind me of how important it was to give my praise and share testimonies and truths I’d learned, all due to my newly gained spiritual strength that I’d received. He said, by submitting praise and testimonies to be used, it was like I was donating my own blood for surgery, or bone marrow for my own transplant. By giving, encouragement would be ready for me when a crisis hit my own life. And I know I’m not alone. Many of you have experienced the very same thing, when you read your own praise report or testimony that is posted; it appears just when you (and others) need to hear it. Each bit of encouragement has fed you with an extra boost, when you were really struggling. It was just perfect, just what you needed to overcome what was about to destroy you.

Toe ek Hom gevra het om my meer in te lig, het Hy aangegaan om my te herinner van hoe belangrik dit was om my lof en getuienisse en waarhede wat ek geleer het te deel, alles as gevolg van my nuutgvonde spirituele krag wat ek ontvang het. Hy het gesê, deur lof en getuienisse in te dien om gebruik te word, was soos om bloed te skenk vir ‘n operasie, of beenmurg vir my eie oorplanting. Deur aanmoediging te gee, sou gereed vir my wees wanneer ‘n krisis my eie lewe tref. En ek weet ek is nie alleen nie. Baie van julle het dieselfde ding ervaar, wanneer jy jou eie lofverslag of getuienis wat geplaas is lees; kom dit te voorskyn net wanneer jy (en ander) nodig het om dit te hoor. Elke bietjie aanmoediging het jou met ‘n ekstra stoot gevoed, toe jy regtig gesukkel het. Dit was net perfek, net wat jy nodig gehad het om te oorkom wat op die punt was om jou te vernietig.

 Though you’ve probably heard it before from Erin, let’s be sure you have one thing straight: God doesn’t need your money! He owns everything. He is only providing you with an opportunity to invest into what He’s doing! When you tithe, you are going to reap the blessings of every life that is changed! When you give to your storehouse, which is where God tells you to tithe, which is where you are fed, God allows you to share in all that the ministry or mission does: with their giving, their sowing, and their changing lives in your community or around the world. Giving to our storehouse is where we need to invest our money, instead of investing in stocks or property—whose sole purpose is to make more money, not do the work of the Lord. And what’s even better news is that, even if a ministry or a mission falls, God will cover your losses and bless you with outrageous rewards (usually more than doubled) for your cheerful, giving heart!!

Alhoewel jy dit moontlik vantevore gehoor het by Erin, kom ons wees seker dat jy het een ding reg het: God het nie jou geld nodig nie! Hy besit alles. Hy voorsien jou net met ‘n geleentheid om te belê in wat Hy besig is om te doen! Wanneer jy jou tiende gee, gaan jy die seëninge van elke lewe wat verander word maai! Wanneer jy aan jou voorraadkamer gee, waar is waar God vir jou sê om jou tiende te gee, waar jy gevoed word, laat God jou toe om te deel in alles wat die bediening of sending doen: met hulle gee, hulle saai, en hulle wat lewens in jou gemeenskap of rondom die wêreld verander. Om vir jou voorraadkamer te gee is waar ons ons geld moet belê, in plaas daarvan om in aandele of eiendom te belê—wie se enigste doel is om meer geld te maak, en nie die werk van die Here te doen nie. En wat selfs beter nuus is is dat, self as die bediening of ‘n sending misluk, sal God jou verlies dek en jou met ontsaglike belonings seën (gewoonlik meer as dubbel) vir jou blymoedige, vrygewige hart!!

 “Instead of your shame you will have a double portion, and instead of humiliation they will shout for joy over their portion. Therefore they will possess a double portion in their land, everlasting joy will be theirs” (Isaiah 61:7).

“In plaas van vernedering sal julle twee keer soveel besittings hê as tevore, in plaas van minagting sal julle lof ontvang oor wat julle besit. Julle sal in julle land twee keer soveel besit as tevore en julle sal altyd vreugde hê” (Jesaja 61:7).

All this comes from tithing, along with His assurance for you to stop the devourer. “Then I will rebuke the devourer for you…” (Malachi 3:11).

Dit alles kom van tiendes gee, saam met Sy versekering vir jou om die sprinkane te keer. “Ek sal die sprinkane keer…” (Maleagi 3:11).

After coming to terms with the act of tithing, still, many of you will then begin to struggle, wondering where you should tithe. Maybe you’re a member of a church that you haven’t gone to recently, or you have a church that you still tithe to (but no longer attend), or maybe you have recently been watching an encouraging television evangelist. To add to the confusion, you come daily to RMI to read the books for free, take the courses for free, and you are encouraged by real truth, each morning for free. So, now you are not sure where you should be tithing.

Nadat jy ‘n verelyk getref het met die daad van tiendes, sal nog, baie van julle begin om te sukkel, en wonder waar jy jou tiende behoort te gee. Miskien is jy ‘n lid van ‘n kerk waar jy nie onlangs toe gegaan het nie, of jy het ‘n kerk waar jy nog steeds jou tiende gee (maar jy woon nie by nie), of miskien het jy onlangs na bemoedigende televisie evangeliste gekyk. Om te voeg by die verwarring, het jy daagliks gekom om die HMI boeke verniet te lees, die kursusse verniet geneem, en jy is, elke oggend,  deur ware waarheid gratis bemoedig. So, nou is jy nie seker  waar jy jou tiende behoort te gee nie.

*By the way, tithing means 10% of your income: on the gross (or full amount). So, you can choose if you want to be blessed on the gross (or full amount) OR be blessed on the net (or your take home pay.) If you want to be blessed on the smaller amount (the net or your take home pay), guess what? God leaves that up to you, just like He does everything else. Yes, the choice is yours! You can choose to follow Him or decide that it is too great a price, so you turn and walk away from the opportunity.

*Terloops, tiendes beteken 10% van jou inkomst: op die bruto (of volle bedrag). So, jy kan kies of jy geseën wil wees op die bruto (of volle bedrag) OF om op die netto geseën te word (of jou huis toe neem salaris) As jy op die kleiner bedrag geseën wil word (die netto of jou huis toe neem salaris), raai wat? God los dit vir jou, net soos Hy alles anders los. Ja, die keuse is joune! Jy kan kies om Hom te volg of besluit dat die prys te hoog is, so jy draai om en loop weg van die geleentheid.

Where do you tithe?
Waar gee jy jou tiende?

It’s simple. You tithe where you are being fed, where you receive what you need to keep you going day after day. For me and for many of you, this means RMI. But for those of you who are primarily fed by your local church, tithe there, but that doesn’t absolve you from giving to RMI or another ministry who also feeds you— no more than your primary grocery store or food club is the only place you pay for your groceries. If you go to a specialty gourmet store for the items that make your life a bit easier or more enjoyable, I don’t think they would understand (nor should they) that you only faithfully pay your bill down the street where you are a food club member—not if you’ve been coming and taking from their storehouse!

Dit is eenvoudig. Jy gee jou tiende waar jy gevoed word, waar jy ontvang wat jy nodig het om jou dag na dag aan die gang te hou. Vir my en vir baie van julle, beteken dit HMI. Maar vir die van julle wat hoofsaaklik deur julle plaaslike kerk gevoed word, gee jou tiende daar, maar dit stel jou nie vry om vir HMI of ‘n ander bediening te gee wat jou ook voed nie—niks meer as wat jou hoof kruideniersware winkel of voedsel klub die enigste plek is waar jy vir jou kruideniersware betaal nie. As jy na ‘n spesialitiet fynproewers winkel toe gaan vir die items wat jou lewe ‘n bietjie makliker en meer genotvol maak, dink ek nie hulle sal verstaan (nog minder moet hulle) dat jy net jou rekening by die straat af waar jy ‘n voedsel klub lidmaat is betaal—nie as jy na hulle voorraadkamer toe gekom en gevat het nie!

Let me share something with you. About a year ago, a light came on when I went to Bible Gateway, and I realized that I had never given a thing to them, even though I go there regularly. So, I sought the Lord for an amount that I knew was past due, and even though it was a very large sum of money, I gave that donation amount—only to be enormously blessed almost immediately, receiving double. Isaiah 40:2, “Speak kindly . . . And call out to her, that her warfare has ended, that her iniquity has been removed, that she has received of the LORD'S hand DOUBLE for all her sins.”

Laat my iets met jou deel. Omtrent ‘n jaar gelede, het ‘n lig aangekom toe ek na Bybel Gateway toe gegaan het, en ek besef het dat ek nog nooit ‘n ding vir hulle gegee het nie, alhoewel ek gereeld soontoe gaan. So, ek het die Here nagestreef vir ‘n bedrag wat ek geweet het agterstallig was, en selfs toe was dit ‘n baie groot bedrag geld, ek het daardie donasie bedrag gegee—net om amper onmiddellik reusagtig geseën te wees, en dubbeld te ontvang. Jesaja 40:2, “sê vir hom sy swaarkry is verby, hy het geboet vir sy sonde, hy het van die HERE die VOLLE straf ontvang vir al sy sondes.”

Soon after first writing this chapter, I realize that I needed to put Bible Gateway as one of my monthly auto-payments, just as I do with my tithe and other giving or offerings that the Lord has laid on my heart. When I did, I had to laugh. After I paused my writing to go to the site and set up an auto-donation (so I wouldn’t forget), it brought me to the amount to give each month. So, like always, I asked Him, and He led me to put in a monthly amount that was almost three times the amount I had planned on giving them.

Pas na ek hierdie hoofstuk geskryf het, het ek besef dat ek nodig gehad het om Bybel Gateway as een van my maandelikse auto-paaimente te plaas, net soos wat ek met my tiende en ander gee of offerandes wat die Here op my hart geplaas het gedoen het. Toe ek dit gedoen het moes ek lag. Nadat ek my geskryf pouseer het om na die webwerf toe te gaan en ‘n auto-donasie op te stel (sodat ek nie sou vergeet nie), het dit my by die bedrag gebring om elke maand te gee. So, soos altyd, het ek Hom gevra, en Hy het my gelei om ‘n bedrag in te sit wat amper drie maal die bedrag was as wat ek beplan het om vir hulle te gee.

UPDATE: After donating a substantial amount each month as an offering to Bible Gateway for years, I discovered their donation button was gone. Then while searching their site, I read that they no longer accept donations. What a shame. Instead, it stated they’d begun to advertise. So, I asked Him for a way to pay. That’s when He showed me two things. First, how I don’t go to their site as I once had been doing. Instead, He led me to put all Erin’s books, all my books and all the verses I used over and over again into one document that I can search. And should I not be able to find a verse, months before I began just Googling key words to discover the scripture reference. In other words, right when they stopped accepting donations, I’d stopped using their site as I once had. Like everything, His wonders never cease to keep me in a state of constant awe.

OPDATERING: Nadat ek vir jare ‘n aansienlike bedrag elke maand as ‘n offerande vir Bybel Gateway gegee het, het ek ontdek dat hulle donasie knoppie weg was. Toe terwyl ek hulle webwerf nagesoek het, het ek gelees dat hulle nie meer donasies aanvaar nie.  Wat ‘n jammerte. In plaas daarvan, het dit verklaar dat hulle begin het om te adverteer. So, ek het Hom gevra vir ‘n manier om te betaal. Dit is toe dat Hy vir my twee dinge gewys het. Eerstens, hoe ek nie na hulle webwerf toe gaan soos voorheen nie. In plaas daarvan, het Hy my gelei na al Erin se boeke, en my boeke en al die verse wat ek oor en oor in een dokument geplaas het wat ek kan opsoek. En sou ek nie in staat wees om ‘n vers te vind nie, maande voordat ek begin het om sleutel woorde   te Google om die Bybel vers verwysing te vind. Met ander woorde, net toe hulle opgehou het om donasies te aanvaar, het ek opgehou om hulle webwerf te gebruik soos voorheen. Soos met alles, Sy wonders hou nie op om my in ‘n toestand van algehele verwondering te hou nie.    

Secondly, though I do it nowhere else, He also led me to often click on some of the advertisements that they know I would be interested in. With the little I know, I do believe each click pays Bible Gateway a small amount. Again, I never even see the ads on other sites, and I’ve yet to click on them. This is only due to how I live. “He leads me” (Psalm 23) is how I live with my HH, walking hand in hand every waking moment. Yes, it’s heaven.

Tweedens, alhoewel ek dit nêrens anders doen nie, het Hy my gelei om dikwels te klik op al die advertensies wat Hy geweet het ek in in belang sou stel. Met die bietjie wat ek weet, glo ek dat elke klik vir Gateway ‘n klein bedraggie betaal. Weer, sien ek nooit ooit die advertensies op ander webwerwe nie, en ek met nog op hulle klik. Dit is net as gevolg van hoe ek lewe. “Hy lei my” (Psalms 23) is hoe om met my HM lewe, om elke wakker oomblik hand in hand te loop. Ja, dit is hemels. 

Going Higher
Gaan Hoër

Many of you have embraced the principle of tithing, but soon after you will be called to go higher. Maybe the truth is: all of us will be “called” to go higher, but only a brave few will choose to actually begin to make the climb. For me, my first major climb was immediately after my divorce, when I knew that I was facing financial ruin. I had been faithfully tithing, and so had my husband while we were married, but when he told me emphatically that we were about to lose our home (and probably right after the divorce), it was actually God calling me to go higher. Like all crises, this enormous crisis was His way of leading me toward a new path He wanted me to take.

Baie van julle het die beginsel van tiendes omhels, maar gou daarna sal julle geroep word om hoër te gaan. Miskien is die waarheid dat: almal van ons sal “geroep” word om hoër te gaan, maar net ‘n brawe paar sal eintlik kies om die klim te maak. Vir my, my eerste groot klim was onmiddellik na my egskeiding, toe ek geweet het dat ek finansiële ondergang in die gesig staar. Ek het getrou my tiendes gegee, en so het my man toe ons getroud was, maar toe hy empateties vir my vertel het dat ons ons huis gaan verloor (en moontlik net na die egskeiding), was dit eintlik God wat my geroep het om hoër te gaan. Soos alle krisisse, was hierdie enorme krisis Sy manier om my na ‘n nuwe paaidjie te lei wat Hy wou gehad het ek moes neem.

Funny thing is, when I got the word from God on what to do, His solution is something my ex-husband tried to stop me from doing. God’s solution, not surprisingly, was to GIVE. [By the way, if he had been my husband, of course I would have submitted without question. However, once divorced we do not submit to an ex-husband, no more than if he asked to sleep with him.] Also, as a way of teaching you a key principle, watch for increased opposition, when He’s asked you to do something. It’s a clear sign that what’s up ahead is intended to bring about a tremendous reward. Just be certain it’s not God who is trying to stop you from danger, like Balaam in Numbers 22:21-39.

Snaakse ding is, toe ek die woord van God af gekry het oor wat om te doen, was Sy  oplossing iets wat my eks-man my probeer keer het om te doen. God se oplossing, nie verrassend was om te, GEE. [Terloops, as hy my man was, sou ek myself natuurlik sonder twyfel onderwerp het. Nietemin, sodra ons geskei is onderwerp ons nie aan ‘n eks-man nie, niks minder as wat hy ons vra om saam hom te slaap nie.] Ook, ‘n manier om vir jou ‘n sleutel beginsel te leer, wag vir vermeerderde opposisie, wanneer Hy jou gevra het om iets te doen. Dit is ‘n duidelike teken dat wat voorlê bedoel is om ‘n geweldige beloning te bring. Wees net seker dat dit nie God is wat probeer om jou van gevaar te keer nie, soos Balaam in Numerieke 22:21-39. 

Please remember too, it’s human nature to want to pull back when we are faced with things that cause fear. Financial ruin causes fear. People reminding us of our “foolishness” causes fear. Nevertheless, I knew that without God I was completely ruined anyway, and therefore whatever He told me to do, I would do. So, He laid something HUGE on my heart, during a time when all the bills and financial commitments I already had were burying me. He chose to remind me of something that had been neglected, a pledge to the church we’d been attending, a pledge my husband and I both had made almost two years earlier.

Onthou ook asseblief, dit is menslike natuur om terug te wil trek wanneer ons dinge wat vrees veroorsaak in die gesig staar. Mense wat ons aan ons “dwaasheid” herinner veroorsaak  vrees. Nietemin, ek het geweet dat sonder God was ek in elke geval heeltemal ruïneer, en daarom wat ook al Hy my vertel het om te doen, sou ek doen. So, hy het iets GROOT op my hart gelê, gedurende ‘n tyd toe al die rekeninge en verpligtinge wat ek alreeds gehad het besig was om my te begrawe. Hy het gekies om my te herinner aan iets wat afgeskeep was, ‘n pleging vir ‘n kerk wat ons bygewoon het, ‘n pleging wat beide ek en my man amper twee jaar vroeër gemaak het.  

*Many of you who read my prior book, Poverty Mentality, know my testimony. Yet each time I think about it, or share it, its message encourages me enormously. So, I hope you won’t skip ahead and miss being strengthened, when I share this testimony again.

*Baie van julle wat my vorige boek, Armoede Mentaliteit gelees het, ken my getuienis. Tog elke keer wat ek daaroor dink, of dit deel, bemoedig die boodskap my geweldig. So ek hoop jy sal  nie vorentoe spring en uitmis om versterk te word, wanneer ek hierdie getuienis weer deel nie.  

As a couple, we had made a pledge to our church for $10,000, and it had not been paid when he left me. Only a very small portion had been paid over the two years, and there were only 2 weeks until it was due, when the Lord reminded me about it. Here I was with the possibility of losing my home (which is what my ex-husband believed and why he, in the divorce he filed, had his attorney draft a judgment against me to get the equity in our home awarded to him, without the judge presiding over the divorce knowing about it).

As ‘n paartjie, het ons ‘n pleging aan ons kerk gemaak vir R142000, en dit was nie betaal toe hy my verlaat het nie. Net ‘n klein gedeelte was oor die twee jaar betaal, en daar was net twee weke oor voordat dit verskuldig was, toe die Here my daaraan herinner het. Hier was ek met die moontlikheid dat ek my huis kon verloor (wat is wat my eks- man geglo het en waarom hy, in die egskeiding wat hy aanhanig gemaak het, sy prokureur gekry het om ‘n vonnis teen my te bring om die aandele in ons huis aan hom te beloon, sonder dat die regter wat oor die egskeiding voorgesit het daarvan weet).

Then, when the efforts of my ex-husband didn’t work to stop me from paying the pledge (again, because he was no longer my husband, so I knew I couldn’t submit to him), that’s when he began rallying my children to try to stop me. Yet, I knew that all I had was the Lord, and without HIM I was ruined. Therefore, I had to follow and do what was right, no matter what.

Toe, toe die pogings van my eks-man nie gewerk het om my te keer om die pleging te betaal nie (weer omdat hy nie meer my man was nie, so ek het geweet dat ek nie aan hom kon onderwerp nie), dit was toe dat hy my kinders saamgetrek het om my te probeer keer. Tog, ek het geweet dat al wat ek gehad het was die Here, en sonder HOM was ek geruïneerd. Daarom, moes ek volg en  doen wat reg was, maak nie saak wat nie.

Though fear tried to stop me, and doubt that I was doing the right thing plagued me, He showed me a way to pay what was due. I obeyed what He said and chose to pay the remainder of that pledge, and within only 2 HOURS, someone emailed me saying that they’d just written a check and they were sending me a check for $10,000—which was the full amount of the pledge—not just the portion I just had paid, but the entire amount!!

Alhoewel vrees my probeer keer het, en twyfel dat ek besig was om die regte ding te doen my gepla het, het Hy my ‘n manier gewys om te betaal wat geskuld was. Ek het gehoorsaam wat Hy gesê het en gekies om die oorblywende van daardie pleging te betaal, en binne 2 URE, het iemand vir my ‘n epos gestuur en geê hulle het so pas ‘n tjek uitgeskryf en dat hulle vir my ‘n tjek van R142000 gaan stuur—wat die volle bedrag van die pleging was—nie net die deel wat ek betaal het nie, maar die hele bedrag!! 

Now I know that the real blessing was not the money at all; it was the faith that He built in me that day. The blessings were the principles that God implanted in my heart that day. He had proved to me, through this crisis, that each time that you or I choose to do what God says—no matter what—even if met with opposition from others and from within us (feelings of fear and doubt that what you or I will do is the right thing) and we do it—magnificent blessings are on the other side just waiting for us. In addition, I learned that by telling my HH I would do what He asked if He helped me, no matter what, He would make it happen, as I walked forward holding His hand.

Nou ek weet dat die regte seën glad nie die geld was nie; dit was die geloof wat Hy in my opgebou het daardie dag. Die seëninge was dat die beginsels wat God daardie dag in my hart ingeplant het. Hy het aan my bewys, deur hierdie krisis, dat elke keer wat jy en ek kies om te doen wat God sê—maak nie saak wat nie— selfs al kry jy oposissie van ander en van binne (gvoelens van vrees en twyfel dat wat jy en ek sal doen die regte ding is) en ons doen dit—is manjifieke seëninge aan die ander kant en wag net vir ons. Ter aanvulling, ek het geleer dat deur vir my HM te sê dat ek sou doen wat Hy my gevra het as Hy my gehelp het, maak nie saak wat nie, sou Hy dit maak gebeur, soos wat ek vorentoe geloop het en Sy hand vasgehou het.

Even though I didn’t have the money to pay that pledge, no matter how hard I tried to find a way, along with the deadline for the pledge coming and going too, no matter how many times everyone tried to tell me that God did not expect me to pay it, and the church (if they knew my situation) would not expect me to pay it—God continued to urge me to trust Him and not pull back. And the result, again, was not just that huge amount of money, the full amount, being given back to me two hours later. Nor was it being told that I was right (by my ex-husband). No, the greatest benefit and gift was the FAITH that He built into me that day, faith that no one can ever take away. Also, I now have this powerful spiritual arsenal, my testimony, that I’ve given to countless others around the world.

Alhoewel ek nie die geld gehad het om daardie pleging te betaal nie, maak nie saak hoe hard ek probeer het om ‘n manier te vind nie, saam met die spertyd vir die pleging wat ook kom en gaan, maak nie saak hoeveel keer almal my probeer vertel het dat God nie verwag het dat ek dit moes betaal nie, en die kerk (as hulle my situasie geken het)sou nie verwag dat ek dit betaal nie—God het voort gegaan om my aan te spoor om in Hom te vertrou en nie terug te trek nie. En die resultaat, weer, was nie net daardie groot bedrag geld nie, die volle bedrag, wat twee ure later vir my teruggegee was. Nog minder was dit dat ek vertel was dat ek reg was (deur my eks-man). Nee, die grootste voordeel en geskenk was die GELOOF wat Hy daardie dag in my gebou het, geloof wat niemand ooit kan wegneem nie. Ook, ek het nou hierdie kragtige arsenaal, my getuienis, wat ek vir ontelbare ander dwarsoor die wêreld gegee het.  

Now, here I am again at that place where it looks like I am going to go under. Since there is much more at stake, the tests, understandably, are harder. His first test was asking me to choose to take the first fruits and sow them into lives that would be changed, rather than to pay my taxes. Reason and guilt (and maybe a bit of a “religious” spirit) made me feel I needed to pay the taxes first, because it looked (on paper) like I wouldn’t have enough to pay my taxes. But as I spoke to my HH, the Lord, I knew the first fruits needed to be sown into what He was doing in the lives of so many who need Him. So, that’s what I did.

Nou, hier is ek weer by daardie plek waar dit lyk asof ek onder gaan. Aangesien daar baie meer op die spel is, is die toeste, verstaanbaar moeiliker. Sy eerste toets was om my te vra om die eerste vrugte te neem en hulle in lewens te saai wat verander sou word, eerder as om my belasting te betaal. Rede en skuld (miskien ‘n bietie van ‘n “godsdienstige gees” het my maak voel dat ek nodig gehad het om eerste my belasting te betaal, omdat dit (op papier) gelyk het asof ek nie genoeg sou hê om my belasting te betaal nie. Maar soos wat ek met my HM, die Here gepraat het, het ek geweet dat eerste vrugte moes gesaai geword het in wat Hy besig was om te doen in die lewens van so baie wie Hom nodig gehad het. So dit is wat ek gedoen het.

Just two days later, AFTER I chose to resist fear or my religious spirit, I was informed by our state tax department to wait to see if I did indeed need to pay the taxes! They contacted me, informing me that they believed there was an error when I filed (my error, not theirs). Correcting my error meant that I owed nothing, in the exact same way my federal taxes turned out. My mistake in my federal taxes was what led them to give me a refund that ended up as a direct deposit in my bank account, my first fruits, which was the exact amount needed for my daughter’s ticket and documentation to go to Africa. Each time, by making a “mistake,” God had set it up so I would have money ready when I needed it.

Net twee dae later, NA ek gekies het om vrees of my godsdienstige gees teen te staan, was ek deur ons belasting departement ingelig om te wag en sien of ek inderdaad belasting moet betaal! Hulle het my gekontak, en my ingelig dat hulle geglo het dat daar ‘n fout was toe ek my belasting ingevul het (my fout, nie hulle sin nie). Deur my fout reg te stel sou beteken dat ek niks geskuld het nie, op dieselfde manier wat my federale belasting uitgewerk het. My fout in my federale belasting was wat hulle gelei het om vir my ‘n terugbetaling te gee wat as ‘n direkte deposito in my bank rekening opgeeindig het, my eerste vrugte, wat die presiese bedrag was wat ek nodig gehad het vir my dogter se kaartjie en dokumentasie om Afrika toe te gaan. Elke keer, deur ‘n “fout” te maak, het God dit so opgestel dat ek geld sou hê wanneer ek dit nodig gehad het.  

*The term “first fruits” means that we give the first portion of what we get back to God. It’s like giving your first-born son to God, as Samuel’s mother did, only to be blessed with more children. In my situation, my income had totally dried up, with just a trickle coming in, when I got this very large and unexpected check for overpayment of my taxes, which they said was due to an error when I did my taxes myself. Even though no one found an error, when all was said and done, nevertheless, the money was there and ready.

*Die term “eerste vrugte” beteken dat ons die eerste gedeelte van wat ons kry aan God teruggee. Dit is soos om jou eers-geborene seun aan God te gee, soos wat Sameul se moeder gedoen het, net om met meer kinders geseën te word. In my situasie, het my inkomste heeltemal opgedroog, met net ‘n druppel wat inkom, toe ek hierdie groot en onverwagse tjek vir die oorbetaling van belasting gekry het, wat hulle gesê het was as gevolg van ‘n fout toe ek die belasting myself gedoen het. Alhoewel niemand ‘n fout gevind het, toe alles klaar was nie, nietemin, die geld was daar en gereed.

So, even if we make a mistake, God is right there with this promise, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). This promise and principle, alone, should always be used to help us move ahead, when we are too afraid to move forward—all we have to do is utilize its power by acting on it.

So, selfs as ons ‘n fout maak, God is reg daar met sy belofte, “Ons weet dat God alles ten goede laat meewerk vir dié wat Hom liefhet, dié wat volgens sy besluit geroep is” (Romeine 8:28). Hierdie belofte en beginsel, alleen, moet altyd gebruik word om vorentoe te beweeg—al wat ons moet doen is om sy krag te gebruik deur om daarop te reageer.

Gosh, what if we get lost, though, and lose our way? Not surprisingly, our HH has that concern covered too! “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?” (Luke 15:4). Though this verse is key for salvation, it also is a principle that works when you or I get lost, or feel we are. I know.

Goeie genade, wat as ons verlore raak, en ons pad verloor? Nie verrassend, ons HM het daardie bekommernis ook gedek! “Sê nou een van julle het honderd skape en een van hulle raak weg. Wat doen hy dan? Hy laat die nege en negentig in die veld staan en gaan agter die een aan wat weg is, totdat hy hom kry.” (Lukas 15:4). Alhoewel hierdie die sleutel vir redding is, is dit ook ‘n beginsel wat werk wanneer ek of jy verlore raak, of ons verlore voel. Ek weet.

Though sowing those first fruits was difficult, to say the least, the second test, which I believe is what I hope to be my “finals,” makes the first pale in comparison. All through my journey of moving my mountain of debt, I have told God and anyone who would listen that it would be GOD who would supply all my needs!

Deur hierdie eerste vrugte te saai was moeilik, om die minte te sê, die tweede toets, wat ek glo is wat ek hoop om my “finale” te wees, maak dat die eerste bleek lyk in vergelyking. Dwarsdeur my reis om my berg van skuld te versit, het ek vir God en enigiemand wat wou luister vetel dat dit GOD sou wees wat in al my behoeftes sou voorsien!

Desperate to make it happen MY WAY, as I said, I neglected fully teaching the principle of tithing, primarily sharing that RMI was my storehouse and was probably yours too. Then, I realized it was somewhat purposefully that I did it, when I realized that each time I was prompted, I was afraid women who have felt led to donate to my ministry (or to RMI where I am paid) would give to their storehouse—when I wanted it to come straight from God! Doesn’t the way we think often make you question your sanity? Hmmm, well, maybe it’s just me.

Desperaat om dit op MY MANIER te laat gebeur, soos wat ek gesê het, het ek heeltemal die beginsel van tiendes verwaarloos, en hoofsaaklik gedeel dat HMI my voorraadkamer was en was seker joune ook. Toe, het ek besef dat dit ietwat  doelgerig was dat ek dit gedoen het, toe ek besef het dat elke keer wat ek aangehits was, was ek bang dat vrouens wie gelei gevoel het om aan my ministerie te doneer (of HMI waar ek betaal word) sou aan hulle voorraadkamer gee—toe ek wou hê dit moes reguit van die God af kom! Maak die manier wat ons dikwels dink jou nie jou gesonde verstand bevraagteken nie? Hmmm, wel, miskien is dit net ek. 

Knowing full well that when anyone fails to give when and where she should, she soon would come up lacking or short on funds, I continued to resist encouraging all of you to make sure YOU tithe and YOU give to your storehouse—no matter where it is. Honestly, I didn’t consciously know I was doing it—until the Lord opened my eyes to what was/is happening to so many of my close friends, women I minister to. Once I realized this truth, I came to the crossroads that would determine my future and yours. What was I going to do now?

Deur ten volle te weet dat wanneer enigeen misluk om te gee wanneer en waar sy behoort, sy gou kort sou opkom  of ‘n tekort aan fondse hê, ek het voort gegaan om te weerstaan om almal van julle aan te meodig om seker te maak dat JY jou tiende gee en JY jou tiende aan jou voorraadkamer gee—maak nie saak waar dit is nie. Eerlik, ek het nie bewustelik geweet ek doen dit nie—totdat die Here my oë oopgemaak het tot wat was/is besig om te gebeur met so baie van my intieme vriende, vrouens aan wie ek minister. Toe ek hierdie waarheid besef het, het ek by die kruispad gekom wat my en jou toekoms sou bepaal. Wat sou ek nou doen?

By telling many of you that you have failed to GIVE to your storehouse (which means there is not going to be food enough, nor even a storehouse), it will certainly mean that many will judge my motives and conclude that I am using you to make my own mountain fall. People are quick to judge. Yet honestly, my struggles go even deeper than what you may think of me. My greatest and deepest struggle is that I didn’t want it this way! I wanted, and asked God again and again, to bring my resources from outside the ministry (not through increased donations or more book sales by adding a new book). Instead, I wanted to give to RMI and give to others, needing nothing from anyone other than from God!!

Deur baie van julle te vertel dat jy misluk het om vir jou voorraadkamer te GEE (wat beteken dat daar nie genoeg kos gaan wees, of selfs ‘n voorraadkamer), sal dit sekerlik beteken dat baie my motiewe sou oordeel en tot die gevolgtrekking kom dat ek jou gebruik  om my eie berg te maak val. Mense is gou om te oordeel. Tog eerlik, my gesukkel gaan selfs dieper as wat jy van my mag dink. My grootste en diepste gesukkel is dat ek dit nie so wou gehad het nie! Ek wou gehad het, en het vir God keer op keer gevra, om my hulpbronne van buite my bediening te bring (nie deur vermeerderde donasies of meer boek verkope deur nog ‘n boek by te voeg nie). In plaas daarvan, wou ek vir HMI en ander gee, en om niks van enigiemand behalwe God nodig te hê nie!!  

Then, just the other day, God reminded me of how I told Him how I wanted all His promises to me to be done prior to writing Finding the Abundant Life. I wanted Him to change and radically transform my husband (so that we could minister together as a couple) and hoped that God would give him the same passion that I had, something that he lacked. Instead, He chose to remove him—the most scandalous and hardest way He could have brought about His promises!!

Toe, net die ander dag, het God my herinner aan hoe ek vir Hom vertel het hoe ek wou gehad het dat al Sy beloftes aan my gedoen moes word voordat ek Vind die Oorvloedige Lewe gekryf het. Ek wou gehad het dat hy my man radikaal moes verander en transformeer (sodat ons saam as ‘n paartjie kon minister) en ek het gehoop dat God vir hom dieselfde passie sou gee as wat ek gehad het, iets waarin hy tekort geskiet het. In plaas daarvan, het Hy gekies om hom te verwyder—op die mees skandalige en moeilikste manier wat Hy Sy beloftes kon voortbring!!

 “‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ declares the LORD. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts’” (Isaiah 55:8–9).

“‘My gedagtes is nie julle gedagtes nie, en julle optrede nie soos Myne nie, sê die HERE; soos die hemel hoër is as die aarde, so is My optrede verhewe bo julle optrede en My gedagtes bo julle gedagtes”’ (Jesaja 55:8-9).

Right now, I know that if I don’t tell many of you that you have been robbing God (Malachi 3:8–10), because you have not faithfully tithed to your storehouse, I know you will go under financially. Though this is probably the hardest decision I have ever had to make as a minister of His truths, I am washed up anyway if I don’t choose to step out and obey the Lord. “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46). Instead, I must risk being thought of as trying to get your money and making my own mountain fall myself, by my pressing you to give.

Nou dadelik, weet ek dat ek nie vir baie van julle vertel het dat ek God beroof het nie. (Maleagi 3:8-10), omdat jy nie getrou aan jou voorraadkamer jou tiende gegee het nie, weet ek jy sal finansieël onder gaan. Alhowel dit moontlik die moeilikste besluit is wat ek al ooit as ‘n minister van Sy waarhede moes maak, is ek in ek geval uigespoel as ek nie kies om uit te tree en die Here te gehoorsaam nie. “Watter sin het dit dat julle My aanspreek met ‘Here, Here!’ en nie doen wat Ek sê nie?” (Lukas 6:46). In plaas daarvan, moet ek die risiko neem dat jy dink dat ek probeer om jou geld te neem om my eie berg myself te maak val, deur jou te druk om te gee.  

However, whether or not you give is not the determining factor, but whether or not I will do what He has called me to do— will I speak the truth no matter what you or anyone else thinks? Asking you to give is what everyone has been telling me to do, but I didn’t want to do it. And when I have taken this to the Lord, He has reminded me of two other chapters, where I wrestled with Him all night, not wanting to write what I have revealed to everyone. But I did, no matter what anyone thought, including how I thought about myself. By far, I have been my greatest opposition in all of this; I really see it now for the first time, at least the magnitude of this “self” that is just struggling to stay alive when I want the self in me to die. I just hope and pray and plead with God that by doing what is right, no matter what, it will mean that that the SELF will die. 

Nietemin, of jy gee of nie is nie die beslissende faktor nie, maar of ek sal of nie sal doen wat Hy my geroep het om te doen nie—sal ek die waarheid praat maak nie saak wat jy of enigiemand anders dink nie? Om jou te vra om te gee is wat almal my vertel om te doen, maar ek wou dit nie doen nie. En toe ek dit vir die Here geneem het, het Hy my herinner aan twee ander hoofstukke, waar ek die heel aand met hom gestoei het, deur nie te wil skryf wat ek aan almal ontbloot het nie. Maar ek het, maak nie saak wat enigiemand gedink het nie, insluitend hoe ek van myself dink. By verre, was ek my grootste oposissie in dit alles; ek sien dit regtig nou vir die eerste keer, ten minste die grootte van hierdie “self” wat net sukkel om aan die lewe te bly wanneer ek wil hê dat die self in my moet sterf. Ek hoop en bid net en smeek by God dat deur te doen wat reg is, maak nie saak wat nie, sal beteken dat die SELF sal sterf.

Here is what I know: if I do what is right, God will make my mountain come down, and He is going to choose how to do it. The point is this—and it’s what I have said all along—it will be GOD who supplies all my needs (not you, not my books, not a pay raise: not by donations or book sales). It’s not going to depend upon my ability to get my point across or even how accurately and deeply I share my heart with you. It will all depend upon God’s faithfulness to His word, when we trust Him, and we prove so by our actions. 

Hier is wat ek weet: as ek doen wat reg is, sal God my berg laat afkom, en Hy gaan kies hoe om dit te doen. Die punt is dit—en dit is wat ek nog die heeltyd gesê het—dit sal GOD wees wat in al my behoeftes voorsien (nie jy, nie my boeke, nie ‘n salarisverhoging: nie deur donasies of boekverkope nie). Dit gaan nie afhang van my vermoë om my punt te maak of selfs hoe akkuraat en diep ek my hart met jou deel nie. Dit sal afhang van God se betroubaarheid aan Sy woord, wanneer ons op Hom vertrou, en ons bewys dit deur ons aksies.

 “But someone may well say, ‘You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works” (James 2:18).

“Maar iemand kan miskien sê: “Die een het die geloof en die ander het die dade.” Goed, wys dan vir my jou geloof wat sonder dade is, en ek sal jou my geloof wys uit my dade” (Jakobus 2:18).