Ben Fourie
Share your belongings with your needy fellow Christians ... Romans 12:13a, GNT
Serving people can become very tiring – ask anyone who works in a people-orientated job. It doesn’t matter how dedicated you are or how much empathy you have for those in need; it can become exhausting. This feeling is not only true in a professional sense but even within our family or circle of friends.
If you have never experienced this kind of fatigue, consider yourself doubly blessed. Unfortunately, many of us have encountered it. However, serving others, especially those in need, is one of the key responsibilities of every believer according to the Bible. It is part of our mission as builders of the body of Christ on Earth.
When Paul talks about fellow Christians in need, two things need to be addressed. Firstly, the word he uses refers to those who lack material goods. Many people have very few possessions, and we are therefore instructed to share what we have with those less fortunate.
When we look at other verses in the Bible, it becomes clear that the concept of needy individuals extends beyond material needs. Many times, people might need moral or spiritual support even more than material support, so we are called to share our spiritual resources with them.
The second important point that we need to address is the phrase “fellow Christians.” Sometimes, we can become so focused on meeting the material and spiritual needs of people outside our community that we forget about our fellow believers. It is the mission of the church and each individual to help those in need, such as when a flood devastates homes and livelihoods. However, we must also remember our neighbours who have lost their jobs; they, too, require our material and spiritual support.
Today, I encourage you to take a look around you. Many people are in need on both counts – do not hesitate to contribute in abundance.
Prayer: Lord, you have blessed us with so many things, both material and spiritual. Please open our eyes to the needs of those around us. Amen.
Ben Fourie
Betoon meelewing met die behoeftes van die heiliges ... Romeine 12:13a, 2020-vertaling
Die diens aan ander mense kan soms veeleisend word. Vra maar vir enigiemand wat in hulle beroep met mense moet werk. Dit maak nie saak hoe 'n toegewyde persoon jy is nie, jou liefde en diensbaarheid word soms tot die uiterste beproef. Maar dit is nie net binne 'n beroepsomgewing nie. Selfs binne ons familie of vriendekring gebeur dit.
As jy dit nog nooit so ervaar het nie, is jy besonders geseënd, maar vir die oorgrote meerderheid van ons is dit maar al te waar. Tog is dit een van die dinge wat gereeld in die Bybel voorgehou word as deel van elke gelowige se taak. Dit is deel van ons bouwerk aan die liggaam van Christus op aarde.
Wanneer Paulus hier praat van die behoeftes van die heiliges, is daar twee dinge wat aandag vra. Eerstens dui die woord wat hy hier vir behoeftes gebruik op materiële gebrek. Die Bybel vir almal sê dit baie mooi: “Party mense wat ook aan die Here behoort, het min goed. Julle moet van julle goed vir hulle gee.”
Ek dink as ons na baie ander gedeeltes van die Bybel kyk, ons goedskiks ook die woord behoeftes kan uitbrei na meer as net die materiële. Soms is mense se innerlike behoeftes baie meer as hulle behoefte aan besittings. Na aanleiding van bogenoemde woorde uit die Bybel vir almal, wil ek dan sê dat party mense min geestelike goed het en ek van my geestelike goed vir hulle moet gee.
Die tweede is die woord “heiliges”. Die 1983/1992-vertaling sê “medegelowiges”. Ons is dikwels geneig om bo-oor die koppe van 'n medegelowige wat swaarkry te kyk na mense in die wêreld rondom ons wat hulp nodig het. Ons moet nie die een versorg en dalk die ander vergeet nie. Dit is goed dat die kerk en ek as lidmaat tydens 'n vloedramp help en bydra, maar wat van my buurman wat sy werk verloor het by wie daar materiële en geestelike behoefte is?
Kyk maar rondom jou. Oral is daar mense wat op albei terreine baie min goed het. Gee maar ruimskoots.
Gebed: Here, U gee so mildelik aan ons alles wat ons nodig het. Maak ons oë oop vir die behoeftes van ander mense. Amen