A short clip from the sixth day (Spiritual and economic breakthrough seminar, Ntenga, Same)
Sometimes, an unbeliever can give a better offering than a believer and please God more than a saved person. Acts 10:31,32 “and said, Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms have been remembered before God. Send therefore to Joppa, and call for Simon, who is surnamed Peter; he lodges in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the seaside: when he cometh, he will speak to you.” Another person, although saved, only prays but does not please God with his giving. We should not despise anyone, even if he is not saved. We do not know what God has in mind for his life. God was pleased with Cornelius’ offerings before he was saved, until he decided to give him instructions on how to be saved. We should not limit God by ignoring unbelievers. They are created by God, too. Even if you are saved, God’s plan for you does not begin when you are saved, but from your mother’s womb. God gave you talents from your mother’s womb. A person in Bible times was blessed simply because the ark of the covenant was kept in his house. James 1:27 “Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: To visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” God wants us to reach out to groups living in vulnerable situations. It is our responsibility to advocate for widows and not just pray for them. Isaiah 1:17 “Learn to do good; seek justice and righteousness; relieve the oppressed; defend the fatherless; plead for the widow.” Jesus condemned many of the evils of the religious and government leaders of his day. So our job is not just to preach the Word of God.
Kipande kifupi cha siku ya sita
(Semina ya upenyo wa kiroho na kiuchumi, Ntenga, Same)
Wakati mwingine, mtu asiyemjua Mungu anaweza kutoa sadaka nzuri kuliko muumini na matokeo yake akamgusa Mungu kuliko mtu aliyeokoka. Mdo 10:31,32 “akasema, Kornelio, kuomba kwako kumesikiwa, na sadaka zako zinakumbukwa mbele za Mungu. Basi, tuma watu kwenda Yafa, ukamwite Simoni aitwaye Petro, anakaa katika nyumba ya Simoni, mtengenezaji wa ngozi, karibu na pwani; naye akija atasema nawe.” Mtu mwingine ingawa ameokoka anafanya tu maombi lakini hamgusi Mungu kwa utoaji. Hatupaswi kumdharau mtu yeyote hata kama hajaokoka. Hatujui Mungu ana mpango gani na maisha yake. Mungu aliguswa na sadaka za Kornelio kabla hajaokoka mpaka akaamua ampe maelekezo ya namna ya kuokoka. Tusimuwekee Mungu mipaka kwa kuwapuuza watu wasiookoka. Kumbuka hata wao wameumbwa na Mungu. Hata kama umeokoka mpango wa Mungu kwako hauanzii unapookoka bali tangu tumboni mwa mama yako. Mungu alikupa vipaji tangu tumboni mwa mama yako. Kuna mtu katika kipindi cha Biblia alibarikiwa kwa vile tu sanduku la agano limehifadhiwa katika nyumba yake. Yak 1:27 “Dini iliyo safi, isiyo na taka mbele za Mungu Baba ni hii, Kwenda kuwatazama yatima na wajane katika dhiki yao, na kujilinda na dunia pasipo mawaa.” Mungu anataka tuyafikie makundi yanayoishi katika mazingira hatarishi. Ni wajibu wetu kuwatetea wajane na sio kuwaombea tu. Isaya 1:17 “jifunzeni kutenda mema; takeni hukumu na haki; wasaidieni walioonewa; mpatieni yatima haki yake; mteteeni mjane.” Yesu alikemea maovu mengi ya viongozi wa dini na serikali wa kipindi chake. Hivyo kazi yetu sio kuhubiri Neno la Mungu peke yake.
Dr. Lawi Mshana, Facilitator and Public Speaker, +255712924234, Tanzania
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