Video link: Siku ya 7: Semina ya upenyo wa kiroho na kiuchumi
A short clip from the seventh day (Spiritual and economic breakthrough seminar, Ntenga, Same)
Another reason why God’s people have a hard life is that they lack the habit of giving when they are blessed. Many people only think about how God will use other people to bless them. And some believe that our responsibility is only to give to God’s special work. But we have a greater work than that. Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you; measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will men give into your bosom. For with the same measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Realize that you also have a responsibility to give to people. Since the cross is vertical and horizontal, we have a responsibility to give to God and to give to people. Jesus pleased God and men. Luke 2:52 “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” We need a network of people so that they remember us in the future. The same person you helped may not necessarily remember you. God can raise another to help you.
If you want blessings from God's servants, bless them with things that touch their hearts. When Isaac wanted to bless his son, he told him to prepare a favourite meal. Genesis 27:4 “Make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless you before I die.” When you touch your parents' hearts, they speak blessings into your life. Your parents carry your blessings and your curses. It is you who activates the blessing in your life. Ruth 3:17 “And she said, And these six measures of barley he gave me; for he said to me, ‘Do not go to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’” We are not supposed to go to our in-laws empty-handed. We should not even go to church empty-handed. Exodus 34:20 “….And no one shall appear before me empty-handed.” No one lacks an offering to give to God. Remember, an offering is not just money.
Kipande kifupi cha siku ya saba
(Semina ya upenyo wa kiroho na kiuchumi, Ntenga, Same)
Sababu nyingine ya watu wa Mungu kuwa na maisha magumu ni kutokuwa na tabia ya kutoa zawadi wanapobarikiwa. Watu wengi wanawaza tu namna Mungu atakavyowatumia wengine wawabariki. Na wengine wanadhani wajibu wetu ni kutoa tu kwenye kazi maalum ya Mungu. Lakini tuna kazi kubwa zaidi ya hiyo. Lk 6:38 “Wapeni watu vitu, nanyi mtapewa; kipimo cha kujaa na kushindiliwa, na kusukwa-sukwa hata kumwagika, ndicho watu watakachowapa vifuani mwenu. Kwa kuwa kipimo kile kile mpimacho ndicho mtakachopimiwa.” Tambua kwamba una wajibu pia wa kuwapa watu vitu. Kwa vile msalaba uko wima (vertical) na umelala (horizontal), tuna wajibu wa kumtolea Mungu na kuwapa watu. Yesu alimpendeza Mungu na wanadamu. Luka 2:52 “Naye Yesu akazidi kuendelea katika hekima na kimo, akimpendeza Mungu na wanadamu.” Tusisahau kuwa na mtandao wa kusaidiana na watu pia ili watukumbuke. Sio lazima yuleyule uliyemsaidia akukumbuke. Mungu anaweza kuinua mwingine wa kukusaidia.
Ukitaka baraka kutoka kwa watumishi wa Mungu wabariki pia kwa vitu vinavyoigusa mioyo yao. Isaka alipotaka kumbariki mwanae alimwambia amuandalie chakula anachokipenda. Mwanzo 27:4 “ukanifanyie chakula kitamu namna ile niipendayo, ukaniletee, ili nile; na roho yangu ikubariki, kabla sijafa.” Unapougusa moyo wa mzazi wako anatamka baraka katika maisha yako. Wazazi wako wamebeba baraka zako na laana zako. Ni wewe unayesababisha kitamkwe kitu sahihi. Ruthu 3:17 “Akasema, Na vipimo hivi sita vya shayiri amenipa; maana akaniambia, Usiende kwa mkweo mikono mitupu.” Hatutakiwi kwenda kwa wakwe zetu mikono mitupu. Hata kanisani hatupaswi kwenda mikono mitupu. Kut 34:20 “….Wala hapana atakayehudhuria mbele zangu mikono mitupu.” Hakuna mtu ambaye hana sadaka ya kumpa Mungu. Kumbuka sadaka sio pesa peke yake.
Dr. Lawi Mshana, Facilitator and Public Speaker, +255712924234, Tanzania
){kind=link}