No. 2: Why do some Christians not experience lasting blessings?
(Na 2. Kwa nini baadhi ya Wakristo hawana baraka za kudumu?)
1. You forget God when you are successful
Deuteronomy 8:18 “But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.” According to this scripture, God does not give us wealth, but the power to get wealth. This means that he provides us with wisdom, methods, and strategies on how to get wealth. God’s covenant with Abraham is that He will bless him so that he will be a blessing, that is, a channel to bless others. Genesis 12:2 “And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing.” God did not intend to bless us to enjoy His blessings alone. When we are blessed, we should touch the lives of others.
Deuteronomy 8:12-14 “12 When you have eaten and are full, and have built a goodly house and settled in it; 13 and when your herds and flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold multiply, and all that you have is multiplied; 14 then your heart be not lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.” Often, when a person is in trouble, it is easy to be humble, and when blessed, it is easy to forget God. The time to show that you love God is when you are blessed.
Na 2. Kwa nini baadhi ya Wakristo hawana baraka za kudumu?
1. Unamsahau Mungu unapofanikiwa
Kum 8:18 “Bali utamkumbuka Bwana, Mungu wako, maana ndiye akupaye nguvu za kupata utajiri; ili alifanye imara agano lake alilowapa baba zako, kama hivi leo.” Kwa mujibu wa andiko hili, Mungu hatupi utajiri bali anatupa nguvu za kupata utajiri. Hii ina maana kwamba anatupa hekima, mbinu na mikakati ya namna ya kupata utajiri. Agano la Mungu kwa Ibrahimu ni kwamba atambariki ili awe baraka yaani, awe mfereji wa kuwabariki wengine. Mwanzo 12:2 “nami nitakufanya wewe kuwa taifa kubwa, na kukubariki, na kulikuza jina lako; nawe uwe baraka.” Mungu hakukusudia kutubariki ili tufurahie baraka hizo peke yetu. Tunapobarikiwa tunapaswa kugusa maisha ya wengine.
Kum 8:12-14 “12 Angalia, utakapokuwa umekula na kushiba, na kujenga nyumba nzuri na kukaa ndani yake; 13 na makundi yako ya ng'ombe na kondoo yatakapoongezeka, na fedha yako na dhahabu yako itakapoongezeka, na kila kitu ulicho nacho kitakapoongezeka; 14 basi hapo moyo wako usiinuke, ukamsahau Bwana, Mungu wako, aliyekutoa katika nchi ya Misri, katika nyumba ya utumwa.” Mara nyingi mtu akiwa na shida ni rahisi kuwa mnyenyekevu na akibarikiwa ni rahisi kumsahau Mungu. Kipindi kuonyesha kwamba unampenda Mungu ni wakati unapobarikiwa.
Dr. Lawi Mshana, +255712924234, Tanzania
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