“Hard work” – the price of success

2020-10-31
Proverbs 14:23 NIV

One day a grandfather told his grandchildren the story of how he came to America. He told about the trains and ship that brought him from his home in Eastern Europe. He told of being processed along with other immigrants at Ellis Island, and how he’d gone to a cafeteria in Lower Manhattan to get something to eat. He sat down at an empty table and waited a long time for someone to take his order, but nobody came.

Finally a woman with a tray full of food sat down opposite him and explained how a cafeteria works. “You start at the end,” she said, pointing toward a stack of trays. “Then you go along the food line and pick out what you want. At the other end they’ll tell you how much you have to pay.”

The grandfather reflected for a moment and said, “I soon learned that’s how everything works in this country. Life is a cafeteria here. You can get anything you want – even very great success – if you’re willing to pay the price. But you’ll never get what you want if you wait for someone to bring it to you. You have to get up and get it yourself.”

The difference between where you are right now and where you want to be can be summed up in two words – hard work! “Does God want me to succeed?” you ask. Yes, but He won’t drop success into your lap. He promised to “bless all the work of your hands” (Deuteronomy 28:12 NIV). Countless hours, persistent effort, and constant improvement make the difference between ambition and success.

Soul food: Deut 18:9-18; Isa 47:5-15; Acts 16:16-34; Dan 2

Harde werk – die prys van sukses


Spreuke 14:23 NLV

Een dag het ‘n oupa vir sy kleinkinders die verhaal van hoe hy na Amerika gekom het, vertel. Hy het hulle van die treine en die skip wat hom van sy huis in Oos-Europa gebring het, vertel. Hy het vertel hoe hy saam met ander immigrante by Ellis Eiland geprosseseer moes word en hoe hy na ‘n kafeteria gegaan het om iets te kry om te eet. Hy het by ‘n leë tafel gaan sit en lank gewag vir iemand om sy bestelling te kom neem, maar niemand het nie.

Uiteindelik het ‘n vrou met ‘n skinkbord kos oorkant hom gaan sit en verduidelik hoe ‘n kafeteria werk. ‘Jy begin by hierdie punt,’ het sy gesê en na ‘n stapel skinkborde gewys. ‘Dan gaan jy by die lyn kos af en kies wat jy wil hê. By die ander punt sal hulle vir jou sê hoeveel dit sal kos.’

Die oupa het vir ‘n ruk daaroor gepeins en toe vir sy kleinkinders gesê: ‘Ek het gou geleer hoe alles in hierdie land werk. Die lewe hier is ‘n kafeteria. Jy kan enigiets kry wat jy wil hê – selfs groot sukses – as jy bereid is om die prys te betaal. Jy sal egter nooit kry wat jy wil hê as jy vir iemand wag om dit vir jou te bring nie. Jy moet opstaan en dit self gaan kry.’

Die verskil tussen waar jy op die oomblik is en waar jy wil wees, kan met twee woorde opgesom word – harde werk! ‘Wil God hê dat ek sukses moet behaal?’ vra jy. Ja, maar Hy sal nie sukses in jou skoot laat val nie. Hy het beloof om ‘…al die werk wat jy doen, te seën…’ (Deuteronomium 28:12 NLV). Ontelbare ure, aanhoudende inspanning en konstante verbetering kan die verskil tussen ambisie en sukses maak.

Sielskos: Deut 18:9-18; Jes 47:5-15; Hand 16:16-34; Dan 2

Work ethic


Proverbs 14:23 NCV

When we like the work we’re doing, it’s easy to be enthusiastic about it and have a good work ethic. But when we’re stuck doing something we don’t enjoy, it’s just as easy to do it half-heartedly and carelessly. But God calls us to have a good work ethic whatever we’re doing, and however we feel about the task itself.

Paul wrote: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters’ (Colossians 3:23 NIV). We can read something similar in Ephesians: ‘Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people’ (6:7 NLT). And in the Old Testament, we find this: ‘Whatever work you do, do your best’ (Ecclesiastes 9:10 NCV).

All of this tells us that working hard and being diligent is another way of worshipping God. When we look at our work from this perspective – as a way to glorify God – it makes it easier for us to approach the tasks set out for us with a joyful heart and to try to do them well, even if we’re not thrilled by them.

God designed work, and designed us to work. After God created the world, He took Adam and ‘put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it’ (Genesis 2:15 NIV). But even though God wants us to work hard, it doesn’t mean we should take it too far and become workaholics. God set the example for us when He rested on the seventh day (take a look at Genesis 2:2-3). He didn’t need to rest, but He wanted to set the pattern for us. So let’s glorify Him by working as He wants us to.

Deut 18:9-18; Isa 47:5-15; Acts 16:16-34; Dan 2

Words

2020-10-30
Proverbs 15:23 NLT

One of the easiest areas to repeatedly trip up on sin is in the way that we speak. So often, our mouth lets something slide out before we’ve fully thought about what we’re saying. But that can cause so much damage. Proverbs 18:21 tells us that ‘the tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences’ (NLT). It really is that serious.

All of our words carry our thoughts directly into someone else’s mind. A careless word from us can dramatically alter the way that other people think, feel, and even live their lives. God calls us to be diligent with our words, because our conversations have so much power.

However, the positive side to this is that if our words have so much influence, then the outcome can be dramatically positive when we invite God into what we say. Proverbs 15:23 also reminds us that ‘everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time!’ (NLT).

When we work with God to resist the urge to speak negatively, we really can shine a light to those around us. It will take prayer and real practice, but it is possible with God to make it a habit to check ourselves before speaking. Even while we’re working on curbing negative words, we can send out as many good words as possible.

Let’s make a real effort to use every conversation that we have as an opportunity to share something of the hope and joy that we’ve found in God. Imagine the trail of positivity you’d leave everywhere you go.

Ezra 3-5; John 7:25-44; Ps 108; Prov 24:29

Sê die regte ding


Spreuke 15:23 NLV

William Penn, die stigter van die Britse kolonie in Pennsylvania in 1677 (die Amerikaanse staat van Pennsylvania is na hom vernoem), het ses beginsels vir gesprekke geformuleer:

‘1) Vermy geselskap waar dit nie winsgewend of noodsaaklik is nie, maar wanneer jy jou in so ‘n gesprek bevind, praat min en praat laaste.

2) Stilte is wysheid, waar om te praat dwaasheid sal wees. Stilte is altyd veilig.

3) Sommige mense is so dwaas dat hulle die gesprek onderbreek en aanneem wat die een wat praat wil sê, in plaas daarvan om te luister en te dink voor hulle antwoord. Dis nie net ongeskik nie, maar dom.

4) As jy twee keer dink voor jy praat, sal jy twee keer beter praat.

5) Dis beter om niks te sê as om nie tot die punt te kom nie. 6) Laat die waarheid altyd jou doelwit in alle gesprekke wees, nie oorwinning of onregverdige selfbelang, winsbejag of om jou kritici te ontbloot nie.’

In kort: Dink voor jy praat! Gee jouself tyd om wysheid in jou woorde te inkorporeer en vermy woorde wat ander mense minderwaardig laat voel of wat hulle sal intimideer.

Een van die beste manier om ander mense te oortuig, is om na hulle te luister. ‘n Skinderbek praat oor ander mense en ‘n vervelige mens praat oor homself, maar ‘n goeie gesprekvoerder praat oor dit wat jou interesseer en luister aandagtig na wat jy te sê het.

Die waarheid is dat mense soms minder onthou hoe meer jy praat. Hulle is meer geneig om jou woorde te onthou as hulle voel dat jy genoeg omgee om na hulle gedagtes en bekommernisse te luister. Die Bybel sê: ‘Daar is vreugde daarin om die regte antwoord te hê; wat is beter as die regte woord op die regte tyd?’

Sielskos: Esra 3-5; Joh 7:25-44; Ps 108; Spr 24:29