2020-03-01
Psalm 32:5 NLV
Wanneer jy met ‘n hardkoppige gewoonte of verslawing stoei, sal jy krag in die regte ondersteuningsgroep vind. Jy moenie skaam wees om vir hulp uit te reik wanneer jy dit nodig het nie – maar wees versigtig aan wie jy jou sondes bely! Die Psalmdigter het geskryf: ‘…’Ek bely my opstand teen die Here.’ En my sonde en oortredings het U vergewe.’ Een Bybelonderwyser stel dit so: Moet nooit iets bespreek wat jy wil hê iemand anders moet vergeet nie. Jou woorde maak gedagtes permanent; hulle gee lewe en langslewendheid aan alles wat bespreek word. Argumente sou sterf en konflikte sou ophou, as dit nie was vir jou woorde wat hulle gehandhaaf het nie. Woorde blaas lewe in alles in. ‘Die tong het mag oor dood en oor lewe. Hulle wat lief is om te praat, moet saamleef met die gevolge van hulle woorde’ (Spreuke 18:21 NLV). Woorde kan seermaak. ‘Skinderstories is so soet soos lekkers. Jy sluk dit maklik, en dit sink tot diep in jou gemoed’ (Spreuke 18:8 NLV). Jy kan nie ander mense keer om van jou te praat nie, maar moenie vir hulle inligting gee wat jy dalk sal wil hê hulle moet vergeet nie. Moet ook nooit onnodige inligting gee wat meer vrae inspireer nie. Wees versigtig wanneer jy jou foute bely. Jou poging om openlik te wees mag dalk baie opreg wees, maar jou fout mag dalk groter in hulle geheue wees as die les wat jy daaruit geleer het en met hulle probeer deel. Daar is natuurlik tye wanneer addisionele inligting en verduideliking raadsaam, voordelig of selfs noodsaaklik is, maar jy moet wys wees. Fokus op jou toekoms, nie op jou verlede nie. Moet nooit iets sê wat jy nie wil hê die res van jou lewe herhaal moet word nie.’
Sielskos: Hand 2:1-21; Joël 2:23-32
Psalm 32:5 NIV
When we’ve done something wrong, or we’re struggling with a particular issue, it can be a great idea to talk to other people about it. But we need to discern the right people to share our struggles with. The wrong people will delight in our failings, gossip about it with others, and even spread rumours about us. In fact, by telling everyone our story, we can end up being labelled forever. It’s definitely important to share our story and our struggles with other people. When Jesus cast out demons from a man, He said: ‘Return home and tell how much God has done for you’ (Luke 8:39 NIV). But the man was told to share his story in his hometown. He wasn’t called to travel and share it with everyone he came across. We need to think carefully about our audience and our timing. It might be best to open up to trusted people in our church, rather than posting about it on social media. It might be best to open up to those closest to us, rather than sharing with everyone we meet. We also need to remember that we should be confessing our sins and struggles to God. The psalmist wrote, ‘I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.’ It might feel daunting to take all our imperfections to a perfect God, but He tells us that we can approach Him with confidence (take a look at Hebrews 4:16). He promises to forgive our sins. Psalm 103 says: ‘He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west’ (v.12 NLT). We can turn to Him with confidence that He won’t label us or hold our sins against us.
Acts 2:1-21; Joel 2:23-32
Psalm 32:5 NIV
When you are struggling with a stubborn habit or addiction, you will find strength in the right support group. And when you need help, don’t be ashamed to reach for it – but be careful to whom you confess your sins! The psalmist wrote, “I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.’ And you forgave the guilt of my sin.” One Bible teacher put it like this: “Never discuss what you want someone else to forget. Your words make thoughts permanent; they give life and longevity to everything discussed. Arguments would die and conflicts would cease, except your words sustained them. Words breathe life into everything. ‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof’ (Proverbs 18:21). And words can wound. ‘The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly’ (Proverbs 18:8). You can’t stop others from talking about you, but don’t give them information you may want them to forget. And never give unnecessary information that requires, demands, or inspires the pursuit of more questions. Be cautious when confessing your mistakes. Your attempt to be open may be very sincere, but your mistake may loom larger in their memory than the lesson you’ve learned and are trying to share with them. Certainly, there are times when additional information and clarification are advisable, beneficial, and even necessary, but you must be wise. Focus on your future, not your past. And never say anything you don’t want to be repeated for the rest of your life.”
Soul food: Acts 2:1-21; Joel 2:23-32
