“He seized him and began to choke him, saying,

‘Pay back what you owe.’

— Matthew 18:28

“Hy het hom gegryp en gewurg, en gesĂȘ:

 ‘Betaal wat jy skuld!’

— Matteus 18:28

 

This next lesson I needed to learn and live to move my mountain is found in this parable


Die volgende les moes ek leer en uitleef om my berg wat in hierdie gelykenis gevind is te versit...

The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant

Die Gelykenis van die Ongenadige Amptenaar

“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?’

“Daarna het Petrus na Jesus toe gekom en gevra: “Here, hoeveel keer moet ek my broer vergewe as hy iets verkeerds teen my doen? Selfs sewe keer?”

“Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

“Jesus antwoord hom: “Ek sĂȘ vir jou, nie sewe keer nie maar selfs sewentig maal sewe keer.

“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

“Daarom kan die koninkryk van die hemel vergelyk word met 'n koning wat besluit het om saam met sy amptenare hulle boeke na te gaan. Toe hy daarmee begin, is een amptenaar na hom toe gebring wat miljoene rand geskuld het. Hy kon dit nie betaal nie, en daarom het die koning beveel dat hy en sy vrou en sy kinders en alles wat hy het, verkoop en die skuld betaal moet word.

“The servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

“Die man het voor hom neergeval en gesoebat: ‘Gee my tog uitstel; ek sal u alles terugbetaal.’Die koning het hom jammer gekry, hom laat gaan en sy skuld afgeskryf.

“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii [a few dollars]. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

“Toe daardie man buite kom, het hy een van sy medeamptenare raakgeloop wat hom net 'n paar rand geskuld het. Hy het hom gegryp en gewurg, en gesĂȘ: ‘Betaal wat jy skuld!’

“His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’

“Sy medeamptenaar het voor hom neergeval en hom gesmeek: ‘Gee my tog uitstel, ek sal jou betaal.’

“But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.

“Maar hy wou nie en hy is daar weg om hom in die tronk te laat gooi totdat hy die skuld betaal het. “Toe sy medeamptenare sien wat gebeur het, was hulle diep teleurgesteld, en hulle het alles wat gebeur het, vir hulle koning gaan vertel.

“Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

“Die koning het hom laat haal en vir hom gesĂȘ: ‘Jou skurk! Al daardie skuld het ek vir jou afgeskryf omdat jy my gesoebat het. Moes jy nie ook jou medeamptenaar jammer gekry het soos ek jou jammer gekry het nie?’ Die koning was woedend en het hom oorgegee om gemartel te word totdat hy al die skuld betaal het.

“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

“So sal my Vader wat in die hemel is, ook met julle maak as julle nie elkeen sy broer van harte vergewe nie.”

Most of us have read this parable, and most have also heard a sermon or two on it. Each time we feel uncomfortable and concerned that we may have forgotten someone who needs to be set free from what they believe they “owe” us. At least, that’s the way I always react to this story.

Meeste van ons het hierdie geykenis gelees, en meeste het ook ‘n preek of twee daaroor gelees. Elke keer voel ons ongemaklik en bekommerd dat ons iemand mag vergeet het wat nodig het om vrygestel te word van wat hulle glo hulle ons “skuld.” Ten minste, dit is hoe ek altyd op hierdie storie reageer. 

Honestly, I am not sure how the Lord brought this principle to my mind, but I do know when, and because I tend to be a person riddled with guilt (not sure if it is due to my Catholic upbringing, my personality, or both), I felt guilty the very moment I realized it.

Eerlik, ek is nie seker hoe die Here hierdie beginsel in my gedagtes opgebring het nie, maar ek weet wanneer, omdat ek neig om ‘n persoon te wees wat oorval is met skuldgevoelens (nie seker of dit is as gevolg van my Katolieke opbrengs nie, my persoonlikheid, of albei nie, ek voel skuldig die presiese oomblik wat ek dit besef het.

It happened just a few days after my son paid me back a considerable sum that I had hoped he would simply “take” as an investment toward his future. Just three days later, after he paid me back and I accepted it is when He reminded me that I needed to be a receiver, not just a giver, that I realized that to be set free from my debt, I needed to be certain that I released each and every person who owed me! Unfortunately (and this is why I felt guilty), I assumed that I should have thought of this sooner!

Dit het gebeur net ‘n paar dae nadat my seun my ‘n aansienlike bedrag geld terug betaal het wat ek gehoop het hy eenvoudig sou “neem” as ‘n belegging vir sy toekoms. Net drie dae later, nadat hy my terug betaal het en ek dit aanvaar het was toe Hy my herinner het dat ek ‘n ontvanger moes wees, nie net ‘n gewer nie, dat ek besef het dat om van my skuld vrygestel te word, ek seker moes wees dat ek ieder en elke persoon wie vir my geskuld het moes vrylaat! Ongelukkig (en dit is waarom ek skuldig voel), het ek aangeneem dat ek vroeĂ«r hieraan moes dink!

Giving the money back to my son was impossible because my initial response to his handing me the check was to cry and not accept it. But God convicted me (as I shared with you in the last chapter) that many of us are very good “givers”, but we also need to be able to accept when someone gives to us. So, I had accepted his gift, then turned around only three days later to tell his brother that he owed me nothing!

Deur die geld vir my seun terug te gee was onmoontlik omdat my aanvanklike reaksie toe hy die tjek aan my oorhandig het was om te huil en dit nie te aanvaar nie (soos wat ek met jou in die laaste hoofstuk gedeel het) dat baie van ons goeie “gewers” is, maar ons moet ook in staat wees om te aanvaar wanneer iemand vir ons gee. So ek het sy geskenk aanvaar, en toe net drie dae later omgedraai en vir sy broer gesĂȘ dat hy my niks geskuld het nie!

[May I say that later, after discussing this with my HH over a cup of coffee, that He showed me this, too, was part of His plan. Of course, it’s a journey and He’d led me to take his money while releasing his brother because very soon, my son “Mr. Giver” was about to reap some huge rewards—which he did soon after!]

[Mag ek sĂȘ dat later, nadat ek dit met my HM oor ‘n koppie koffie bespreek het, dat Hy dit my gewys dat dit, ook, deel van Sy plan was. Natuurlik, is dit ‘n reis en Hy het my gelei om sy geld te vat terwyl ek sy broer vrygelaat het omdat gou, baie gou my seun “Mnr. Gewer” op die punt gestaan het om groot belonings te maai—wat hy gou daarna gedoen het!]

So, who still owed me? The first person that came to mind was my other son who had borrowed money to pay his taxes. He had worked for my ministry as an independent contractor, while also working part-time somewhere else. As a contractor, it is not the responsibility of the employer to withhold taxes, so when tax time came, he owed a lot, which was bad timing since he was just weeks before his wedding day. So, he ended up borrowing money from me.

So, wie het my nog geskuld? Die eerste persoon wat in my gedagtes gekom het was my ander seun wat geld geleen het om belasting te betaal. Hy het vir die bediening as ‘n onafhanklike kontrakteur gewerk, terwyl hy ook ĂȘrens anders deeltyd gewerk het. As ‘n kontrakteur, is dit nie die verantwoordelikheid van die werkgewer om belasting te weerhou nie, so toe dit belasting tyd word, het hy baie geskuld, wat slegte tydsberekening was aangesien dit net weke voor sy troudatum was. So, hy het opgeeindig om geld by  my te leen.

Would you believe that it wasn’t until the very day that the Lord showed me that I had to release everyone from owing me that I remembered the money I had loaned him? I had totally forgotten his debt, due to the heart of giving the Lord had given me and the principle to give and not lend that He’d taught me in Luke 6:34-38 and Deuteronomy 23:19-20.

Sou jy glo dat dit was nie totdat die einste dag wat die Here my gewys he dat ek almal moes vrylaat wie my geskuld het dat ek onthou het van die geld  wat ek aan hom geleen het? ek het heeltemal van sy skuld vergeet, as gevolg van die hart van gee wat die Here vir my gegee het en die beginsel om te gee en nie te leen nie wat Hy my in Lukas 6:34-38 en Deuteronomium 23:19-20 geleer het.

Unfortunately, though, at the time there had been some misunderstandings in our relationship and I had taken the “letting go” posture while I trusted God to restore my relationship with him—and, of course, He did, but not until He led me to start a book Trust GOD to Restore Your Relationships—a book that’s been on my heart for a long time.

Ongelukkig, alhoewel, destyds was daar een of ander misverstand in ons verhouding en ek het die “laat gaan” postuur ingeneem terwyl ek op God vertrou het om my verhouding met hom te herstel—en, natuurlik, het Hy, maar nie totdat Hy my gelei het om ‘n boek te begin Vertrou op GOD om Jou Verhoudings te Herstel—’n boek wat vir ‘n lang tyd nie op my hart was nie.

Sharing this revelation, telling him that he owed me nothing, was pressing on my heart and rattling my spirit, and it needed to come out somehow. So that morning I called my son and when I finished telling him about what the Lord had revealed to me, as an afterthought I added, “So, if for any reason you think you owe me anything—you don’t.” His response totally stunned me, when he said, “Are you kidding? I can’t believe your timing Mom. For the last three days I have been struggling with how much I owe you, and, knowing your financial situation I just felt I had to do something to begin paying you back. But we just don’t have anything to spare [he had just gotten married].”

Deur hierdie openabring te deel, en vir hom te sĂȘ dat hy my niks skuld nie, het op my hart gedruk en my gees verontrus, en dit moes ĂȘrens uitkom. So daardie oggend het ek my seun geskakel en toe ek hom klaar vertel het oor wat die Here aan my openbaar het, as ‘n nagedagte het ek bygevoeg, “So as jy vir enige rede dink dat jy my iets skuld—jy doen nie.” Sy reaksie het my totaal verstom, toe hy gesĂȘ het, “Maak jy ‘n grap? Ek kan jou tydsberekeking nie glo nie Mamma. Vir die laaste drie dae het ek gesukkel met hoeveel ek jou skuld, en, wetend oor jou finansiĂ«le situasie het ek gevoel dat ek net iets moet doen om jou te begin terug te betaal. Maar ons het net niks oor nie [hy is pas getroud].”

I was sure he was mistaken about owing me, and I told him so. Nevertheless, I assured him he owed me nothing at all because our Beloved Savior has paid the price for me, so I was officially releasing him! Though my son is not emotional at all, I could hear in his voice that he was deeply touched and wonderfully relieved.

Ek was seker dat hy ‘n fout begaan het oor om my te skuld, en ek het dit vir hom gesĂȘ. Nietemin, ek het hom verseker dat hy my glad niks geskuld het nie alles omdat ons beminde Redder die prys vir my betaal het, so ek het hom offisieĂ«l vrygelaat! Alhoewel my seun glad nie emosioneel is nie, kon ek dit aan sy stem hoor dat hy diep aangeraak was en wonderlik verlig.

Then, to my surprise, at that exact moment, a floodgate flew open in my brain and I remembered the many times he had borrowed from me, never paying me back. But I had forgotten all of them. It was then I realized something else


Toe, tot my verrassing, op daardie presiese oomblik, het ‘n vloedhek in my brein oopgevlieg en ek het die vele kere wat hy by my geleen het, en my nooit terug betaal het onthou. Maar ek het van hulle almal vergeet. Dit was toe dat ek iets anders besef het...

You may have released many people from owing you, but if you don’t tell them they are released, then they are still bound, in prison, even if you unlocked their prison cell long ago! I knew that it meant that the Lord was about to reveal to me others who believed they owed me; the next one was my ex-husband.

Jy mag baie mense vrystel wie jou geskuld het, maar as jy nie vir hulle vertel dat hulle vrygestel is nie, dan is hulle nog steeds gebind, in die tronk, al het jy jare terug daardie tronksel oopgesluit! ek het geweet dat dit beteken het dat die Here op die punt gestaan het om ander aan my te openbaar wie glo dat hulle my skuld; die volgende een was my eks-man.

Throughout my divorce, and the two years following it, I radically gave my ex everything he asked for, not withholding anything. In addition, I was careful to give him more than he asked for as the principle in Matthew 5:39-42 teaches us. Even so, two and a half years later, just a week after both my sons married, my ex-husband maliciously attacked me and my ministry with a vengeance like none other. I wrote about this, in length, in a previous chapter that, thankfully, the Lord is not going to make me include in this book. The main reason for writing the chapter was to be the “real deal” to my closest friends, family and some RMI ministry team members, in order to have an opportunity to boast about my weaknesses.

Dwarsdeur die egskeiding, en die twee jaar wat daarop gevolg het, het ek radikaal vir my eks-man alles gegee waarvoor hy gevra het, niks weerhou nie. Ter aanvulling, was ek versigtig om vir hom meer te gee as wat hy gevra het soos in die beginsel in Matteus 5:39-42 ons leer. Selfs so, twee en ‘n half jaar later, net ‘n week nadat beide my seuns getroud is, het my eks man my en my bediening  kwaadwillig met ‘n wraak soos geen ander aangeval. Ek het hieroor, in lengte in ‘n vorige hoofstuk geskryf, dankbaar, gaan die Here nie toelaat dat ek dit in hierdie boek insluit nie. Die hoof rede dat ek hierdie hoofstuk geskryf het was om die “ware Jakob” vir my intieme vriende, familie en sommige HBI bediening lidmate te wees, sodat ek ‘n geleentheid het om oor my swakhede te roem.  

Regardless of what he’d done, my ex was on my list to tell him he owed me nothing. Yet, I immediately heard “no” each time this came to my mind. So, I waited and didn’t know if I was ever going to release him from what he “owed” me. Long ago are the days that I reason or try to lean on my own understanding, no, not due to my newly found wisdom, but primarily due to falling so often! I no longer assume something will happen and try to reason when and why. Instead, I simply wait and trust for an appointed time (Habakkuk 2:2-3).

Ongeag van wat hy gedoen het, was my eks op my lys om hom te vertel dat hy my niks geskuld het nie. Tog, ek het onmiddellik nee gehoor toe dit in my gedagtes opkom. So, ek het gewag en het nie geweet of ek hom ooit sou vrylaat van wat hy my “geskuld” het nie. Lank terug is die dae wat ek redekawel of probeer om op my eie insigte staat te maak, nee, as gevolg van my nuutgevonde wysheid, maar hoofsaaklik omdat ek so dikwels val, neem ek nie meer aan dat iets gaan gebeur nie en ek probeer nie om te redekawel wanneer en waarom. In plaas daarvan, wag ek eenvoudig en vertrou vir ‘n bepaalde  tyd (Habakuk 2:2-3).

Without going into details, with this new and malicious attack, to my surprise, rather than turning the other cheek and walking the extra mile that I had come to love, and honestly enjoy, I was led (and wrestled with) “turning over the tables in the temple,” not literally, but figuratively. It wasn’t until later, then again much later, that I understood the significance of my uncharacteristic actions. Prior to that day, I had, without knowing it, allowed my ex-husband (after our divorce), to continue to run my ministry, thus submitting to him.

Sonder dat ek in besonderhede gaan, met hierdie nuwe kwaadwillige aanval, tot my verrassing, eerder as om die ander wang te draai en die ekstra myl te loop wat ek begin het om lief vir te wees, en eerlik te geniet, was ek gelei (en het gestoei met) om “die tafels in die tempel om te keer,” nie letterlik nie, maar figuurlik. Dit was nie tot later, toe baie later, wat ek die betekenis van my onkenmerkende aksies verstaan het nie. Voor daardie dag, het ek, sonder dat ek dit weet, my eks-man toegelaat (na ons egskeiding), om voort te gaan om my bediening te bestuur, en dus aan hom te onderwerp.

Not only was that a problem for me, because I was His bride and no one else’s. But it was also wrong to do to women who I was ministering to. By allowing him to tell me what I could and could not do, whether it was post something on my site, print something in a book, or what I could sell and/or give away, I unknowingly had kept him as the head of my ministry. Rats, I was unfaithful once again. I was His bride, but my actions said otherwise. Of course, the moment I asked my precious Husband to forgive me, He had, and I knew He also would give me an opportunity to make it right.

Dit was nie net ‘n probleem vir my nie, omdat ek Sy bruid was en niemand anders sin nie. Maar dit is ook verkeerd om aan vrouens te doen aan wie ek geminister het. Deur hom toe te laat om my te vertel wat ek kon en nie kon doen nie, of dit was om iets op my webwerf te plaas, iets in ‘n boek te druk, of wat ek kon verkoop/of weggee, ek het onwetend hom as die hoof van my bediening gehou. Rotte, ek was weer ontrou. Ek was Sy bruid, maar my aksies het andersins gesĂȘ. Natuurlik, die oomblik wat ek my kosbare Man gevra het om my te vergewe , het Hy, en ek weet Hy sal my ook ‘n geleentheid gee om dit reg te maak.

The moment came the afternoon after He’d given me a principle found in Matthew 10:19, “
do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say.” And again, in Luke 12:11, “When they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not worry about how or what you are to speak in your defense, or what you are to say.” So, no longer “ready” knowing what I would say (1 Peter 3:15) when he called, I simply remained silent. Because I said nothing, not continually agreeing as I always did, he became louder and repeated what he wanted me to do, much more forcefully. Then, finally, at the conclusion of this mini-Armageddon, he stopped and said, what do you want? I calmly replied by saying, “Well, I suppose you owe me an apology.” Shock.

Die oomblik het gekom die middag wat Hy my die beginsel in Matteus 10:19 gegee het, “... moet julle julle nie bekommer oor hoe of wat julle moet sĂȘ nie, want op daardie oomblik sal God aan julle gee wat julle moet sĂȘ.” En weer, in Lukas 12:11, “ “Wanneer hulle julle voor sinagoges en owerhede en gesagvoerders bring, moet julle julle nie bekommer oor hoe of waarmee julle julle gaan verdedig of wat julle gaan sĂȘ nie,” so, nie meer “gereed” om te eet wat om te sĂȘ nie (1 Petrus 3:18) toe hy geskakel het, het ek eenvoudig stil gebly. Omdat ek niks gesĂȘ het nie, nie voortdurend ingestem het soos wat ek altyd gedoen het nie, het hy harder gepraat en herhaal wat hy wou gehad het ek moes doen, baie meer kragtig. Toe, finaal, by die afsluiting van hierdie mini-Armageddon, het hy gestop en gesĂȘ, wat wil jy hĂȘ? Ek het kalm geantwoord, “Wel, ek veronderstel jy skuld my ‘n verskoning.” Skok

Baffled is an understatement. Here I was, releasing everyone and I hear myself saying that he “owes” me an apology? How can I move forward if I am still desperately needing to release two people from owing me?

Verstom is  ‘n onderskatting. Hier was ek, besig om almal vry te laat en ek hoor myself sĂȘ dat hy my ‘n verskoning “skuld”? Hoe kan ek vorentoe beweeg as ek nog desperaat nodig het om twee mense vry te laat van wat hulle my skuld?

Do you know that this is also part of God’s plan? As I said, it falls under the “wait” principle. Remember how I told you that I knew I needed to wait to pay my “back” tithes? Here’s one reason why. After waiting to pay the tithe for my second big donation, when the day finally did come, I was elated, and not concerned at all with the cost of the “around the world” ticket that I had to buy—which was more than my tithe should have been. I had, by waiting, renewed my “giving” strength so I could mount up with those lovely eagle wings that allowed me not to faint when it was time to purchase it (Isaiah 40:31).

Weet jy dat dit ook deel is van God se plan? Soos wat ek gesĂȘ het, dit val onder die “wag” beginsel. Onthou hoe ek vir jou gesĂȘ het dat ek moes wag om my “agterstallige” tiendes te betaal? Hier is een rede waarom. Nadat ek gewag het om die tiende vir my tweede groot donasie te betaal, toe die dag uiteindelik gekom het, was ek verheug, en glad nie bekommerd oor die koste van die “ondom die wĂȘreld’ kaartjie wat ek moes koop nie—wat meer was as wat my tiende sou gewees het. Ek het, deur te wag, my “gee” krag hernu sodat ek met daardie lieflike  arendsvlerke kon vlieg wat my toegelaat het om nie afgemat te word toe dit tyd was om dit te koop nie (Jesaja 40:31).  

Then, again, my wait to release these two men also served to strengthen me, so that I was ready when the day finally came. Without sharing too much information, let me just say that releasing my ex did happened, appropriately enough, on what would have been my mother’s birthday. My children and I had decided a few months earlier that on her birthday, each year (and my father’s birthday too, who is also deceased) we would spend that day as a day of remembering and honoring them, doing something special.

Dan, weer, my wag om hierdie twee mans vry te stel het gedien om my te versterk, sodat ek gereed was toe die dag finaal aangebreek het. Sonder om te veel informasie te deel, laat my net sĂȘ dat om my eks vry te laat het gebeur, toepaslik genoeg, op wat my moeder se verjaardag sou wees. My kinders en ek het ‘n paar maande vroeĂ«r besluit, dat elke jaar (en ook op my vader se verjaardag, wie ook dood is) dat ons daardie dag sou spandeer as ‘n dag van herinnering en eer, en om iets spesiaal te doen.

So that morning while talking about my mom, I was suddenly reminded of something that my ex-husband had done during the time when my father was dying. It reminded me of him in an entirely different light, turning my heart, I knew then that it was the appointed time for me to email and release him from “owing me” an apology and “anything else” that he might have thought he owed me.

So daardie oggend terwyl ek oor my moeder gepraat het, was ek skeilik herinner aan iets wat my eks-man gedoen het gedurende die tyd toe my vader besig was om dood te gaan. Dit het my in ‘n heeltemal ander lig aan hom herinner, en my hart gedraai, ek het toe geweet dat dit die vasgestelde tyd was vir my om ‘n epos te stuur en hom vry te laat om  ‘n verskoning en “enigiets anders” wat hy mag gedink het hy “my skuld”.

In the Lord’s wonderful way, He created the perfect method of pulling down any of his emotional walls when I reminded him of the incident that the Lord had brought to my mind. Immediately after I sent it, I did the same thing by writing to both my son and his new wife, letting them know that I released them from the back taxes and anything else they felt they might have owed me.

Op die Here se wonderlike manier, het Hy die perfekte metode geskep vir my om die emosionele mure af te breek toe ek hom herinner het aan die voorval wat die Here na my gedagtes toe gebring het. Onmiddellik nadat ek dit gestuur het, het ek dieselfde ding gedoen deur vir albei my seun en sy nuwe vrou te skryf, en hulle vry te laat van die agterstallige belasting en enigiets anders wat hulle gevoel het hulle my dalk skuld.

It took quite a while for me to hear back from each of them, but that simply gave me time to acknowledge that how they responded, good or bad, was not the point. The point was this—that I was making things right with my Husband, just as withholding freedom from those who owe you doesn’t have anything to do with the other person. It is you who will be held in bondage, not them, just as the opening parable teaches us. 

Dit het ‘n rukkie geneem voordat ek van elkeen van hulle gehoor het, maar dit het eenvoudig vir my die tyd gegee om te erken dat hoe hulle reageer het, goed of sleg, nie die punt was nie. Die punt was dit—dat ek besig was om dinge reg te maak met my Man, net soos om vryheid te weerhou van die wie jou skuld nie enigiets te doen het met die ander persoon nie. Dit is jy wat in  slawerny gehou word, nie hulle nie, net soos wat die openings vergelyking ons leer.

And now, I believe I am only one step away from releasing everyone from the debt they owed me. The last is the most special, it’s you—dear bride, you, too, are released!

En nou, glo ek dat ek net een tree weg is om almal te bevry van die skuld wat hulle my geskuld het. Die laaste is meer spesiaal, dit is jy—liewe bruid, jy, is ook bevry!

Whether or not you have been blessed by my ministry, most of us feel “indebted” to giving financially to a particular ministry and often feel as if we “owe” them some sort of tithe or offering. Some women have written that they did, in fact, “owe me” back tithes (some were quite large), yet, as of today, you owe me nothing.

Of jy deur my bediening geseĂ«n is of nie, meeste van ons voel “verskuldig” om finansieĂ«l vir ‘n spesifieke bediening te gee en voel dikwels asof ons hulle een of ander soort tiende of offerande “skuld.” Sommige vrouens het geskryf dat hulle wel, feitlik, vir my agterstallige tiendes “geskuld” het (sommige was taamlik groot), tog, van vandag af, skuld jy my niks.

For some of you, you might be feeling my release or pardon came much too late, because you already paid back tithes or your offering. But let me assure you that just as my son was blessed because he paid me back and gave—so will you!

Vir sommige van julle, mag julle dalk voel my vrystelling of verskoning het hopeloos te laat gekom, omdat jy alreeds agterstallige tiendes of jou offerandes betaal het. Maar laat my jou verseker dat net soos wat my seun geseĂ«n was omdat hy my terugbetaal het en gegee het—so sal jy!

And, if this chapter was not already so long, I would share my testimony of when I was actually told I was released from “owing” on a building pledge, which was my first step in my moving mountain journey. Just let me say that, even though I was told I no longer owed the building pledge, each and every time I ask my Beloved about paying it, He impressed on my heart that this was His plan—that I should pay it. Long story short, two hours after I paid it, I got a check for the entire ten-thousand-dollar pledge!

En, as hierdie hoofstuk nie alreeds so lank was nie, sou ek my getuienis deel van toe ek eintlik gesĂȘ was dat ek vrygelaat was van ‘n pleging op ‘n gebou  “skuld,” wat my eerste tree was in  my berg versit reis. Laat my net sĂȘ dat, selfs al was daar vir my gesĂȘ dat ek nie meer vir die gebou pleging skuld nie, ieder en elke keer wat ek my Beminde vra oor om dit te betaal, het Hy dit op my hart gedruk dat dit Sy plan was—dat ek dit moes betaal. Lang storie kort, twee ure nadat ek dit betaal het, het ek ‘n tjek vir die hele R150000 pleging gekry.  

I am saying this as a warning. Though I released you, check with God to be sure this is His plan for you. You may not owe me, but if your Husband wants you to pay back tithes or offerings, or a building pledge or anything else, pay it. Always check with your Husband, and don’t listen to what anyone tells you if it’s contrary to what He told you first. As a powerful reminder, let’s finish this chapter by reading the very painful story about the disobedient prophet when he listened to the older prophet instead of what God told him.

Ek sĂȘ dit as ‘n waarskuwing. Alhoewel ek jou vrygelaat het, vra vir God en maak seker dat dit Sy plan is vir jou. Jy mag dalk nie vir my skuld nie, maar as jou Man wil hĂȘ jy moet agterstallige tiendes of offerandes betaal, of ‘n gebou pleging of enigiets anders, betaal dit. Vra altyd vir jou Man, en moet nie luister na wat enigiemand anders jou vertel as dit teenstrydig is met wat Hy jou eerste vertel het nie. As ‘n kragtige herinnering, kom ons maak hierdie hoofstuk klaar deur die baie pynlike storie te lees oor die ongehoorsame profeet toe hy vir die ouer profeet geluister het in plaas van wat God hom vertel het.

“Then he [the older prophet] said to him, ‘Come home with me and eat bread.’

“Die ĂłĂș profeet sĂȘ toe vir hom: “Kom tog saam met my huis toe en kom eet iets.”

“He [the younger prophet] said, ‘I cannot return with you, nor go with you, nor will I eat bread or drink water with you in this place.

“Maar hy antwoord: “Ek kan nie saam met jou teruggaan en in jou huis ingaan nie. Ek mag by jou in hierdie plek niks eet en geen water drink nie,

“For a command came to me by the word of the LORD, ‘You shall eat no bread, nor drink water there; do not return by going the way which you came.’

want die woord van die HERE aan my was uitdruklik: Jy mag daar geen kos eet en geen water drink nie, en jy mag nie terugkom met dieselfde pad as diĂ© waarmee jy gegaan het nie.”

“He [the older prophet] said to him, ‘I also am a prophet like you, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD, saying, ‘Bring him back with you to your house, that he may eat bread and drink water’ But he lied to him.

“Die ĂłĂș profeet sĂȘ toe vir hom: “Ek is ook 'n profeet net soos jy, en 'n engel het op bevel van die HERE vir my gesĂȘ: Bring hom terug na jou huis toe en laat hy iets eet en sy dors les!” Maar die ĂłĂș profeet het vir hom gelieg.

“So he went back with him, and ate bread in his house and drank water.

“Toe gaan hy saam met die ĂłĂș profeet terug huis toe en daar het die man van God iets geĂ«et en water gedrink.

“Now it came about, as they were sitting down at the table, that the word of the LORD came to the prophet who had brought him back; and he cried to the man of God who came from Judah, saying, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Because you have disobeyed the command of the LORD, and have not observed the commandment which the LORD your God commanded you, but have returned and eaten bread and drunk water in the place of which He said to you, ‘Eat no bread and drink no water’; your body shall not come to the grave of your fathers.’

“Terwyl hulle nog aan tafel sit, het die woord van die HERE gekom tot die profeet op wie se versoek die man van God omgedraai het. Die profeet het vir die man van God wat van Juda af gekom het, gesĂȘ: “So sĂȘ die HERE: Omdat jy jou teen die Here verset het en nie die bevel van die HERE jou God gehoorsaam het nie, maar teruggekom het en geĂ«et en water gedrink het in diĂ© plek waar die Here jou verbied het om te eet en water te drink, daarom sal jou liggaam nie in jou familiegraf begrawe word nie.” maar teruggekom het en geĂ«et en water gedrink het in diĂ© plek waar die HERE jou verbied het om te eet en water te drink, daarom sal jou liggaam nie in jou familiegraf begrawe word nie.”

“It came about after he had eaten bread and after he had drunk, that he saddled the donkey for him, for the prophet whom he had brought back.

“Nadat die man van God klaar geĂ«et en gedrink het, het die profeet die man van God wat hy laat omdraai het, se donkie opgesaal.

“Now when he had gone, a lion met him on the way and killed him, and his body was thrown on the road, with the donkey standing beside it; the lion also was standing beside the body. And behold, men passed by and saw the body thrown on the road, and the lion standing beside the body; so they came and told it in the city where the old prophet lived.

“Die man van God het vertrek en onderweg het 'n leeu op hom afgekom en hom doodgemaak. Sy liggaam het daar in die pad gelĂȘ, die donkie het daar langsaan gestaan, en die leeu het langs die liggaam bly staan. Mense wat daarlangs gekom het, het die liggaam daar in die pad sien lĂȘ en die leeu wat langs die liggaam staan, en hulle het dit kom vertel in die stad waar die ĂłĂș profeet gewoon het.

“Now when the prophet who brought him back from the way heard it, he said, “It is the man of God, who disobeyed the command of the LORD; therefore the LORD has given him to the lion, which has torn him and killed him, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke to him” (1 Kings 13:15-26).

“Toe die ĂłĂș profeet wat hom van sy pad af teruggebring het, dit hoor, sĂȘ hy: “Dit is die man van God wat die opdrag van die HERE verontagsaam het. Nou het die HERE beskik dat 'n leeu hom verskeur en doodmaak, soos Hy oor hom laat sĂȘ het.” (1 Konings 13:15-26).

This startling story teaches us one thing, which is— listen to no one who tells you something that the Lord has not told you. If you are not sure, just ask Him and He will be sure you know His heart when that is what you are searching for (Matthew 7:7).

Die verbysterende storie het ons een ding geleeer wat is—moet na niemand luister wat vir jou iet sĂȘ wat die Here jou nie vertel het nie. As jy nie seker is nie, vra Hom net en Hy sal seker wees dat jy Sy hart ken wanneer dit is waarvoor jy soek (Matteus 7:7). 

Now, let me conclude this chapter with this thought and suggestion: Whether we realize it or not, we are holding people in bondage. People we know and love, and maybe even some we despise for what they’ve done to us or someone else—each is being held captive, and the sad truth is—so are we. How can we hold someone captive when Jesus died to set them and us free from so much?

Nou, laat my hierdie hoofstuk afsluit met hierdie gedagte en voorstelling: Of ons dit nou besef ons nie, ons hou mense in slawerny. Mense wie ons ken en vir wie ons lief is, en miskien sommige wie ons verag vir wat hulle aan ons of enigiemand anders gedoen het—elkeen word gevangene gehou, en die treurige waarheid is—so word ons. Hoe kan ons enigiemand gevange hou wanneer Jesus gesterf het om hulle en vir ons vry te stel van so baie?

Set others free, and as you do, you will set yourself free!

Stel ander vry, en soos jy doen, sal jy jouself vrystel!

Lastly, rather than reading the next chapter of this book, stop right now, close the book, and get alone with your Husband. It’ll just take but a moment of your time but will result in a huge reward. Simply ask Him if there is anyone you are holding captive that you need to contact and release. You will be pleasantly surprised, and totally shocked by the results—I sure was.

Laastens, eerder as om die volgende hoofstuk van hierdie boek te lees, hou nou dadelik op, maak die boek toe, en wees alleen saam jou Man. Dit sal net ‘n oomblik van jou tyd neem maar sal ‘n groot beloning as resultaat hĂȘ. Vra Hom eenvoudig of daar enigiemand is wie jy gevangene hou wie jy nodig het om te kontak en vry te laat. Jy sal aangenaam verras wees, en heeltemal geskok deur die resultate—ek was sekerlik. 

Joernaal

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