2018-07-04
Proverbs 10:4 NLT
A leaf-cutting ant may carry up to fifty times its own weight more than a hundred meters. That’s the equivalent of a ninety kilogram man carrying five tons on his back for twenty seven kilometers! In a single summer, a large colony of ants may excavate thirteen to eighteen kilograms of earth to make a nest, and carry 2200 kilograms of material back into the nest for food. It can make as many as four round trips a day to food sources that may be more than hundred meters from the nest. That’s roughly equivalent to a person walking 100 kilometers. If the ant had the stride of a man, it would be capable of bursts of speed in excess of 32km per hour. One thing about an ant you can count on: He always gives his best and pulls his share of the load. Teach your kids that their reputation will never rise above their work ethic, and how people view them as workers. The success of the Walt Disney empire is based on the philosophy of its founder: “Whatever you do, do it so well that when people see you do it, they’ll want to come back and see you do it, and they’ll want to bring others and show them how well you do what you do.” Teach your children to work hard, always finish the job, and always give their best. If they learn that lesson well, you won’t have to teach them much about success – it will be their constant companion.
Soul food: 1 Sam 14-15; Luke 4:14-30; Ps 98; Prov 17:1-3
2018-07-03
Spreuke 14:23 NLV
Die mier sien werk nooit as vuil of benede sy waardigheid nie. Of hy nou grond moet skuif of broodkrummels moet ronddra, hy doen dit sonder om te kla. Hoe anders is dit nie as baie mense vandag nie! Iemand het een keer gespot, ‘As jy jou tieners uit warm water wil hou, sit net ‘n paar vuil borde daarin!’ Alle werk kan en behoort tot die eer van God gedoen te word (sien 1 Korintiërs 10:31). Die som van al hierdie dele word in hierdie eenvoudige Bybelse stelling gevind: ‘Inspanning bring voorspoed…’ Leer jou kinders die outydse manier om geld te bekom – deur daarvoor te werk! Elke werk of roeping, maak nie saak wat dit is nie, is ‘n roeping van God. Dr Martin Luther King het tereg verklaar, ‘Nie alle mans word geroep om gespesialiseerde of professionele werke te doen nie; selfs minder word na die hoogtes van meesters in die kuns of wetenskap geroep. Baie word geroep om in fabrieke, velde en strate te werk. Geen werk is egter onbelangrik nie.’ Jy as ouer berei jou kinders vir hulle beroepslewe voor, berei hulle dus goed voor. As jy dit nie doen nie, sal hulle ‘n lewe van smart hê en ‘n lewe van smart vir ander mense skep. Hulle sal dalk ook weer op jou drumpel opeindig! Base betaal nie werkers wat nie werk nie. Voor jy dus vir jou kinders sakgeld gee, gee hulle take om te doen, soos om hulle bed op te maak, hulle kamers skoon te maak, die asblik uit te neem, goeie punte op skool te behaal en hulle huiswerk betyds te doen. Beloning sonder verantwoordelikheid is verwenning. As jy jou kind liefhet, sal jy hom of haar nie verwen nie!
Sielskos: 1 Sam 11-13; Luk 4:1-13; Ps 95; Spr 16:31-33
Proverbs 14:23 NKJV
The ant never sees work as menial or beneath his dignity. Whether it’s moving dirt or carrying bread crumbs, he merrily goes along doing his job. How unlike that are many people today! Someone has quipped, “If you want to keep your teenagers out of hot water, put some dirty dishes in it!” All work can and should be done for the glory of God (See 1 Corinthians 10:31). The sum of the matter is found in this simple Bible statement: “In all labor there is profit.” Teach your children the old-fashioned way of getting money – working for it! The word “vocation” comes from the Latin word vocare, which means “to call.” So every job or vocation, regardless of what it is, is a calling from God. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. rightly declared, “Not all men are called to specialized or professional jobs; even fewer to the heights of genius in the arts and sciences; many are called to be laborers in factories, fields, and streets. But no work is insignificant.” As a parent you are preparing your child for their work life, so prepare them well. If you don’t, they’ll have a life of grief, and create a life of grief for others. Plus, they may end up back on your doorstep! Bosses don’t pay workers who don’t work. So before you give your child an allowance, give them some chores like making their bed, cleaning their room, helping around the house, taking out the garbage, getting good grades in school, and doing their homework on time. Reward without responsibility is indulgence. And if you love your child you won’t do that!
Soul food: 1 Sam 11-13; Luke 4:1-13; Ps 95; Prov 16:31-33
2018-07-02
Proverbs 6:6 NLT
The Bible says: “Take a lesson from the ants…Learn from their ways and become wise! Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter” (vv. 6-7 NLT). While the queen ant is the center of attention and the mother of most of the ants in the colony, she’s not the chief ruler. The work and survival of the colony is insured by “soldier” ants. These servant-leaders are older ants that begin each new activity in the colony by doing the work themselves. The younger ants then imitate the servant-leaders and join in the work. There are no supervisors, chiefs, or officers amongst the ants. So when Solomon says the ants “have no prince, governor, or ruler to make them work,” it means the ant is a self-starter; this is a picture of the diligent person he describes in Proverbs 10:4: “Lazy people are soon poor; hard workers get rich” (NLT). When you see an ant carrying a piece of bread several times larger than himself up a steep slope, it’s a study in diligence! No matter how many times he drops the bread, he goes back and picks it up, and starts climbing again until he gets it to where it’s supposed to go. What drives him? Hunger – God’s motivating force to labor. “It is good for workers to have an appetite; an empty stomach drives them on” (Proverbs 16:26 NLT). The stomach-growl of a hungry man or woman is often God’s way of teaching us the value and importance of being willing to work.
Soul food: 1 Sam 8-10; Luke 3:21-38; Ps 64; Prov 16:26-30
Spreuke 6:6 NLV
Die Bybel sê: ‘Jou luiaard, gaan leer by die mier wat wysheid is. Kyk wat hy doen. Leer iets by hom. Hy het nie ‘n leier, of ‘n opsigter, of iemand wat agter hom staan nie. Hy kry reeds in die somer sy kosvoorraad reg. In die oestyd werk hy klaar voor die winter kom’ (verse 6-8 NLV). Terwyl die koningin die middelpunt van aandag in die kolonie is, is sy nie die hoof-regeerder nie. Die werk en oorlewing van die kolonie word deur die ‘soldaatmiere’ verseker. Hierdie dienskneg-leiers is ouer miere wat elke nuwe aktiwiteit in die kolonie begin deur die werk self te doen. Die jonger miere boots dan hierdie dienskneg-leiers na en val by die werk in. Daar is geen opsigters, hoofde of offisiere onder die miere nie. Wanneer Salomo dus sê dat die miere ‘nie ‘n leier, of ‘n opsigter, of iemand wat agter hom staan nie’ het nie, is dit ‘n prentjie van die ywerige persoon wat hy in Spreuke 10:4 beskryf: ‘Mense wat lui is, word gou arm. Hulle wat fluks is, word ryk’ (NLV). Wanneer jy ‘n mier sien wat ‘n stuk brood verskeie kere groter as hy by ‘n steil opdraande uitdra, is dit ‘n studie in ywerigheid! Maak nie saak hoeveel keer hy die brood laat val nie, hy gaan terug om dit op te tel en begin weer klim totdat hy dit gebring het waar dit hoort. Wat dryf hom om dit te doen? Honger – God se motiverende krag vir werk. “‘n Werker se honger motiveer hom om te werk, sy behoefte aan kos dryf hom” (Spreuke 16:26 NLV). Die maag van ‘n honger man of vrou wat grom, is dikwels God se manier om ons die waarde van gewilligheid om te werk te leer.
Sielskos: 1 Sam 8-10; Luk 3:21-38; Ps 64; Spr 16:26-30
