Hoofstuk 18 “Uit Genade”

“For by grace you have been saved

Through faith;

And that not of yourselves,

It is the gift of God;

Not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

— Ephesians 2:8–9

 

Julle is inderdaad uit genade gered,

 deur geloof.

 Hierdie redding kom nie uit julleself nie;

 dit is 'n gawe van God.

Dit kom nie deur julle eie verdienste nie,

 en daarom het niemand enige rede om op homself trots te wees nie.

— Efesiërs 2:8-9

 

 

Probably one of the most difficult characteristics of God to understand is His grace. We are so far from this trait as human beings, that by trying to understand it, we destroy its beauty. Preachers are terrified by its meaning and therefore feel the necessity to join it with works or the law lest they lead their congregation astray.

Moontlik een van die mees moeilikste karaktertrekke van God om te verstaan is Sy genade. Ons is so ver van hierdie eienskap as mens, dat deur om te probeer om dit te verstaan, vernietig ons die skoonheid. Predikers is verskrik deur die betekenis en voel daarom die noodsaaklikheid om dit by werke of die wet te voeg dat hulle nie hulle gemeente mislei nie. 

Grace, in its purest form, means that we are given what we do not deserve based solely on the unimaginable love of God.

Genade, in sy suiwerste vorm, beteken dat ons gegee word wat ons nie verdien alleenlik gebasseer op die ondenkbare liefde van God.

God knows our nature and, therefore, is well aware that as adults, when we have lost that innocence and “faith of a child” we have to travel through the journey of works and the law for us to get to the point where we give up and, in our exhaustion or frustration, give it to God— accepting His grace—His unmerited favor.

God ken ons natuur en, is daarom, goed bewus dat as volwassenes, wanneer ons daardie onskuld en “geloof van ‘n kind” verloor moet ons deur die reistog van werke en die wet reis vir ons om tot ‘n punt te kom waar ons opgee en, in ons uitputting of frustrasie, dit vir God gee—en Sy genade aanvaar—Sy onverdiende guns.

Even though my mind and my heart embrace His amazing grace, I am no different than anyone else. Surely, I must live within His laws, and as a Christian actually exceed the law as proof of my right standing with God. For some reason we just can’t accept that we are in right standing by one thing only—by what our Savior did, not what you and I can or will do.

Alhoewel my gedagtes en my hart Sy ongelooflike genade omhels, is ek niks anders as iemand anders nie. Sekerlik, moet ek binne Sy wette lewe, en as ‘n Christen eintlik die wet oorskry  as bewys dat ek in die regte posisie met God staan. Vir een of ander rede kan ons net nie aanvaar dat ons in die regte posisie deur een ding alleenlik is nie—deur wat ons Redder gedoen het, nie wat jy en ek kan of wil doen nie.

So, in my finances God took me on a little journey (may I say a very difficult journey?) that led me through complicated and thorny places to show me things I was ignorant of. One very important to me, to Him, and to our wellbeing is tithing. God set about to teach me the importance of tithing, the dangers of ignoring it, the power of forgiving those who owe me, only to find out that what God is seeking from us, which is not surprising, is not just 10%, but rather 100% of our heart.

So, in my finansies het God my op ‘n klein reistog geneem (mag ek sê ‘n baie moeilike reis?) wat my deur gekompliseerde en doringatige plekke geneem het om my dinge te wys waarvan ek onkundig was. Een baie belangrik vir my, vir Hom, en vir ons welstand is tiendes. God het uitgegaan om vir my die belangrikheid van tiendes te leer, die gevare om dit te ignoreer, die krag om die te vergewe wie vir my skuld, net om uit te vind dat wat God van ons af soek, wat nie verrassend is nie, is nie net 10% nie maar eerder 100% van ons hart.

God wants His children to be cheerful givers, and this is what the Pharisees missed. Look at these contrasting examples:

God wil hê dat Sy kinders blymoedige gewers moet wees, en dit is wat die Farisieërs gemis het. Kyk na die kontrasterende voorbeelde:

“Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed” (2 Corinthians 9:6–9). Versus…

“Dink daaraan: wie karig saai, sal karig oes; en wie volop saai, sal volop oes. Elkeen moet gee soos hy hom in sy hart voorgeneem het, nie met teensin of uit dwang nie, want God het die blymoedige gewer lief. En God is by magte om aan julle alles in oorvloed te skenk, sodat julle in alle opsigte altyd van alles genoeg kan hê en volop kan bydra vir elke goeie werk” (2 Korintiërs 9:6-9). Versus...

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others” (Matthew 23:23).

“Ellende wag vir julle, skrifgeleerdes en Fariseërs, huigelaars! Julle gee tiendes van kruisement, anys en koljander, maar wat volgens die wet van God die swaarste weeg, laat julle na: geregtigheid, barmhartigheid en betroubaarheid. Juis hierdie dinge moet 'n mens doen en die ander nie nalaat nie” (Matteus 23:23).

The Message Bible explains it this way: “You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You keep meticulous account books, tithing on every nickel and dime you get, but on the meat of God's Law, things like fairness and compassion and commitment—the absolute basics!—you carelessly take it or leave it. Careful bookkeeping is commendable, but the basics are required. Do you have any idea how silly you look, writing a life story that's wrong from start to finish, nitpicking over commas and semicolons?”

Die Boodskap Bybel verduidelik dit so: “Ek waarsku julle, Fariseërs en Joodse teoloë. Julle is pynlik presies oor hoe julle kerk hou en julle werk julle tiendes tot op die laaste sent uit. Maar as dinge gedoen moet word wat regtig vir God saak maak, skitter julle in julle afwesigheid. Ek praat van dinge soos om vir almal ’n regverdige kans te gee; of dat julle so vir mense omgee dat julle hulle graag wil help; of dat mense weet dat hulle julle kan vertrou. Ek sê nou nie die ander dinge wat julle doen, is noodwendig verkeerd nie. Maar dit is niks werd as julle nie ook die dinge doen wat regtig vir God saak maak nie”.

Yes, nitpicking over things that don’t matter. Focusing on the outside rather than the inside. Doing all we can to make sure we are in right standing with God so that we have the assurance of being blessed. Yet, once again, God blesses us not because of what we can do, but because of what He, our Savior, has done.

Ja, haarklowery oor dinge wat nie saak maak nie. Om op die uiterste eerder as die binnenste te fokus. Om alles te doen sodat ons seker maak dat ons in die regte posisie met God staan sodat ons die versekering het om  geseën te wees. Tog, weer, seën God ons nie oor wat ons kan doen nie, maar deur wat Hy, ons Redder, gedoen het.

It was His death on the cross, with our sins nailed to it, which paid our debt—all of it. What I learned while on my difficult journey was that I no longer needed to be like the Pharisees, counting and figuring dollars and cents; not even doing my best to be sure that I gave above and beyond what I believed He expected of me. The point is— it is all about grace, which is freely given, not earned.

Dit was Sy dood aan die kruis, met ons sondes daaraan vasgenael, wat ons skuld betaal het—alles. Wat ek op my moeilike reis geleer het was dat ek nie meer soo die Fariseërs hoef te wees nie, om rande en sente te tel en uit te pluis; nie eens om my beste te doen om te gee bo oor dit wat ek geglo het Hy van my verwag nie. Die punt is—dit is alles oor genade, wat vrylik gegee is, nie verdien.

“He has given freely to the poor” (Ps. 112:9). For “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). We were spiritually poor.

“Hy gee mildelik vir die armes” (Ps. 112:9). “Geseënd is dié wat weet hoe afhanklik hulle van God is, want aan hulle behoort die koninkryk van die hemel” (Matteus 5:3). Ons is geeselik arm.

“Freely you received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8). He freely gave to us; therefore, we need to freely give to others.

“Julle het dit verniet ontvang, gee dit ook verniet” (Matteus 10:8). Hy het verniet vir ons gegee; daarom, moet ons verniet aan ander gee.

“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God” (1 Corinthians 2:12).

“Die Gees wat ons ontvang het, is nie die gees van die wêreld nie, maar die Gees wat van God kom. So weet ons wat God ons uit genade geskenk het” (1 Korintiërs 2:12).

To come to the culmination, the conclusion, the finale, the climax— “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).

Om tot by die slotom te kom, die afsluiting, die finale, die klimaks— “Hy het sy eie Seun nie gespaar nie, maar Hom oorgelewer om ons almal te red. Sal Hy ons dan nie al die ander dinge saam met Hom uit genade skenk nie?” (Romeine 8:32).

It took doing everything I could do, and then failing miserably, for me to accept what was mine all along—His grace.

Dit het alles geneem wat ek kon doen, en om dan ellendig te misluk, vir my om te aanvaar wat nog die heeltyd myne was—Sy genade.

When I realized that I had not officially tithed from my ministry, I saw my sin, and that I had fallen short of what was expected of me—the law of giving 10%. I looked at the huge debt with the realization and the vast inability to pay that debt. That was when the Lord turned my focus on not trying to pay the huge debt (like past sins), but to simply pay the ministry’s current tithes as each donation or bookstore earning came in.

Toe ek besef dat ek nie offisieël uit my bediening my tiendes gegee het nie, het ek my sonde gesien, en dat ek tekort geskiet het van wat van my verwag was—die wet om 10% te gee. Ek het na die groot skuld gekyk met die besef en die groot onmoontlikhied om daardie skuld te betaal. Dit was toe dat die Here my fokus gedraai het om nie te probeer om die groot skuld te betaal nie (soos verlede sondes), maar om eenvoudig die bediening se huidige tiendes te betaal soos wat elke donasie of boekwinkel verdienste ingekom het.

Though I will admit that money (banking, figures, and the like) are not my forte or specialty (even though I got straight A’s in math when I was in school) this, I was sure, would be a cinch. Wrong. God made sure that I was utterly and helplessly confused, and soon I was unsure if I had paid or if I hadn’t paid my tithes on parts of my income, once again, I realized that I needed my Savior.

Alhoewel ek sal erken dat geld (bankwese, syfers, en soortgelyks) nie my sterk kant of spesialitiet is nie (alhoewel ek reguit A’s in wiskunde gekry het toe ek op skool was), dit, was ek seker, sou doodmaklik wees. Verkeerd. God het seker gemaak dat ek uiters en hopeloos verwar was, en gou was ek onseker of ek my tiendes betaal het of nie op dele van my inkomste, weer, het ek besef dat ek my Redder nodig gehad het.

In an instant, I thoroughly recognized my utter dependence and hopelessness, and that nothing I could do would measure up with a perfect and holy God—which is just the point! Nothing you or I could do will pay our debt: not for our sins, nor with tithing, which are both based on the law requiring works “because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20)… “nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified” (Galatians 2:16).

Binne ‘n oomblik, het ek deeglik my uiterste afhanklikheid en hopeloosheid erken, en dat niks wat ek kon doen sou opweeg met ‘n perfekte en heilige God nie—wat net die punt is! Niks wat ek of jy kan doen sal ons skuld betaal nie: nie vir ons sondes, nie met tiendes, wat albei gebaseer is op die wet wat werke vereis “Daarom sal geen mens op grond van wetsonderhouding deur God vrygespreek word nie; inteendeel, deur die wet leer 'n mens wat sonde is” (Romeine 3:20)...” En tog weet ons dat 'n mens nie van sonde vrygespreek word deur die wet van Moses te onderhou nie, maar alleen deur in Jesus Christus te glo. Ook ons het tot die geloof in Christus Jesus gekom, en dit is hoe ons vrygespreek is: deur in Christus te glo en nie deur die wet te onderhou nie, want geen mens word vrygespreek op grond daarvan dat hy die wet onderhou nie” (Galasiërs 2:16).

The law was given to prove the impossibility of men being right in the sight of God, which proved their need for a Savior. It was the Pharisees who tried to prove that they did everything right: from tithing, fasting, and even knowing the scriptures (which foretold the coming of Jesus, but they missed it entirely), were worthless because all of these are issues of the heart.

Die wet was gegee om die onmoontlikheid van die mens wat reg in die aangesig van God is te bewys, wat hulle behoefte vir ‘n Redder bewys het. Dit was die Fariseërs wat probeer het om te bewys dat hulle alles reg gedoen het: van tiendes, vas, en selfs om die Woord te ken (wat die koms van Jesus voorspel het, maar heeltemal gemis het), wat waardeloos was omdat al hierdie is kwessies van die hart.

God took me on a journey of grace, but to find my way there, I had to fail miserably while trying to keep the law. I couldn’t keep it, and neither can you.

God het my op ‘n reistog van genade geneem, maar om my pad soontoe te vind, moes ek ellendig misluk terwyl ek probeer het om die wet te onderhou. Ek kon dit nie onderhou nie, en nog minder kan jy.

Yet you might be saying, “Michele, are you kidding? I have been faithful to tithe and do it easily! You may not be able to figure out 10% and give it to your storehouse, but I certainly can.” But you have missed the point…

Jy mag dalk sê, “Michele, grap jy? Ek is getrou om my tiendes te gee en doen dit so maklik! Jy mag nie in staat wees om 10% uit te pluis en dit aan jou voorraadkamer te gee nie, maar ek kan sekerlik. “ Maar jy het die punt gemis...

Once our Savior came and left us His Spirit, we were no longer under the law, meaning we were no longer expected to abide by it. But, as Paul told us, it does not mean that we should go out and break the law either. However, if we try to abide by the law, and fail in just one point, we are guilty of all. So, our choice is to both follow the law and try to live by it or—choose grace—I am choosing grace!

Toe ons Redder gekom het en Sy Gees vir ons gelos het, was ons nie meer onder die wet nie, dit beteken  daar was nie van ons verwag om daaraan te gehoorsaam nie. Maar soos wat Paulus vir ons gesê het, dit beteken nie dat ons moet gaan en die wet verbreek nie. Nietemin, as ons probeer om die wet te gehoorsaam, en in een punt misluk, dan is ons aan alles skuldig. So, ons keuse is om beide die wet te volg en om daarby te lewe—kies genade—ek kies genade!  

Once a believer experiences His grace, which is freely given to us by God through His Son, then we become like Him and want to also give freely. We forgive freely because He has forgiven us freely, for those who do not forgive freely are not forgiven…isn’t that what it says?

Sodra ‘n gelowige Sy genade ervaar, wat vrylik vir ons gegee is deur God deur Sy Seun, dan word ons soos Hy en wil ons ook vrylik gee. Ons vergewe vrylik omdat Hy ons vrylik vergewe het, vir die wie nie vrylik vergewe nie is nie vergewe nie...is dit nie wat dit sê nie?

“For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions” (Matthew 6:14–15).

“As julle ander mense hulle oortredings vergewe, sal julle hemelse Vader julle ook vergewe. Maar as julle ander mense nie vergewe nie, sal julle Vader julle ook nie julle oortredings vergewe nie.” (Matteus 6:14-15).

“Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions” (Mark 11:25–26).

“En wanneer julle staan om te bid, en julle het iets teen iemand, vergewe hom; dan sal julle Vader wat in die hemel is, julle ook julle oortredings vergewe” (Markus 11:25-26).

And after the man refused to forgive the man who owed him, which caused him to then be turned over to the “torturers until he should repay all that was owed him.” Jesus said, “My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart” (Matthew 18:35).

En nadat die man het geweier om die man wat hom geskuld het te vergewe, wat veroorsaak het dat hy oorgegee was aan die “martelaars sodat hy moes terug betaal wat deur hom geskuld was.” Jesus het gesê, “So sal my Vader wat in die hemel is, ook met julle maak as julle nie elkeen sy broer van harte vergewe nie” (Matteus 18:35).

It’s always a heart issue with God. Ezekiel prophetically spoke of what would happen after Jesus came and sent us His spirit:

Dit is altyd ‘n hart saak met God. Esegiël het profeties gepraat oor wat sou gebeur nadat Jesus gekom het en Sy gees vir ons gestuur het:

“And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them and I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 11:19).

“Ek sal hulle 'n ander hart gee en 'n nuwe gees onder hulle laat posvat, Ek sal die kliphart uit hulle liggaam verwyder en hulle 'n hart van vleis gee” (Esegiël 11:19).

“Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26).

“Ek sal julle 'n nuwe hart en 'n nuwe gees gee, Ek sal die kliphart uit julle liggaam uithaal en julle 'n hart van vleis gee” (Esegiël 36:26).

And a heart issue, now I know, goes for tithing and giving too. What my Heavenly Husband explained to me at the end of my journey is that His grace is sufficient and that long ago He put a spirit of giving in my heart—He put Himself. He began to reveal to me, almost supernaturally, how His Spirit had actually caused me to always give more than a 10% tithing would, one by one.

En ‘n hart kwessie, weet ek nou, gaan vir tiendes en gee ook. Wat my Hemelse Man aan my verduidelik het aan die einde van my reistog is dat Sy genade voldoende is en dat Hy lank gelede ‘n gees van gee in my hart geplaas het—Hy het Homself daar geplaas. Hy het aan my begin openbaar, amper bonatuurlik, hoe Sy Gees eintlik veroorsaak het dat ek altyd meer as ‘n 10% tiende sou gee, een vir een.

Time after time, from the moment I was given my ministry back and I was in charge of its finances, my darling Husband showed me that I’d given each time He had instructed me to. I did exactly what my ex-husband was afraid I’d do—I began giving everything I had away. Our books were sent out free to those who couldn’t afford them, and I “foolishly” reduced the price of our books to our members so they simply paid our cost (meaning we would make nothing). I no longer charged to be a member or required that they purchase books to be a member, and I gave abundantly to missions and to anywhere else I could find—just because I felt so free to simply give!

Keer op keer, van die oomblik wat my bediening aan my terug gegee is en ek in beheer van sy finansies was, het my liefling Man my gewys dat ek elke keer wat Hy my beveel het om te gee, gegee het. Ek het presies gedoen waarvoor my eks-Man bang was ek sou doen—ek het begin om alles wat ek gehad het weg te gee. Ons boeke was gratis uitgestuur aan die wat hulle nie kon bekostig nie, en soos ‘n “dwaas” het ek die prys van ons boeke aan ons lidmate verminder en hulle het eenvoudig net ons kostes betaal (wat beteken ons sou niks maak nie). Ek het nie meer ‘n tarief gevra om ‘n lid te word of vereis dat hulle boeke aankoop om ‘n lid te word nie, en ek het vir sendings en enige plek anders wat ek kon vind oorvloedig gegee—omdat ek so vry gevoel het om eenvoudig te gee!

Once I saw what He had done, in a moment of relief, my eyes filled with tears of gratitude—grateful for a Savior whose grace was more than sufficient.

Toe ek gesien het wat Hy gedoen het, in ‘n oomblik van verligting, het my oë met trane van dankbaarheid opgevul—dankbaar vir ‘n Redder wie se genade meer as voldoende was.

The Lord showed me that not only had I given, I had given freely, cheerfully, and amazingly much more than a meager 10%, as with a religious tither would do. The records were all there but were hidden from me until I had reached the end of my journey so that I would experience firsthand, once again, about His amazing grace.

Die Here het vir my gewys dat ek nie net gegee het nie, maar ek het vrylik gegee, blymoedig, en ongelooflik meer as net ‘n karige tiender sou doen. Die rekords was almal daar maar was van my af weggesteek totdat ek die einde van my reistog bereik het sodat ek eerstehands, weer, Sy ongelooflike genade, sou ervaar.

His grace is the substance that cannot be mixed or joined with the law or our works, for in doing so, it becomes ineffective. With tithing, as it is with so many areas of our lives, we try to follow the law, stumble in just one point, making us guilty of all, as we drowned in a sea of condemnation. “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all” (James 2:10).

Sy genade is die stof wat nie gemeng of met die wet saamgevoeg kan word nie, want om dit te doen, word dit ondoeltreffend. Met tiendes, soos wat dit is met baie areas van ons lewens, probeer ons om die wet te volg, en struikel op net een punt, en maak ons skuldig aan almal, soos wat ons in ‘n see van veroordeling verdrink. “As iemand die hele wet onderhou, maar in een opsig struikel, is hy skuldig ten opsigte van al die gebooie” (Jakobus 2:10).

Praise God “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

Loof God “Daar is dus nou geen veroordeling vir dié wat in Christus Jesus is nie.(Romeine 8:1).

This is Good News to the Believer who is having a love affair with their Beloved, but troublesome to those who are followers of religion.

Dit is Goeie Nuus vir die Gelowige wie ‘n liefdes verhouding met hulle Beminde het, maar hinderlik met die wat volgelinge van geloof is.

For you, dear bride, there is no longer any need to count, worry, or wonder if you are measuring up when you are walking in the joy of the Lord and in His love—by His grace. Relieved? I am.

Vit jou, liewe bruid, is daar nie meer enige behoefte om te tel, bekommerd te wees, of te wonder of jy opmeet wanneer jy in die vreugde van die Here en Sy liefde loop—en deur Sy genade. Verlig? Ek is.