2020-12-11
John 13:1 NIV
We can spend hours every day on social media. In fact, social media is one of the greatest tools the church has ever had for reaching the world with the gospel. But it’s important that we think about how and why we’re connecting with others. So today, let’s have a check-up on how we’re using social media.
1) Are we looking for popularity? Do we just want to have the highest number of followers? Jesus said: ‘What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?’ (Luke 9:25 NIV). We might find ourselves posting things that aren’t a true reflection of our characters, or what we believe, just because we’ll get a lot of likes. But when we do this, we’re rejecting the unique person God created us to be. Let’s make sure we’re chasing truth, even if that’s the more unpopular thing.
2) Are we boasting about our achievements? There’s nothing wrong with feeling pleased with what we’ve accomplished, but we need to be aware that we’re not taking it too far and boasting. ‘If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord’ (1 Corinthians 1:31 NLT).
3) Are we reflecting God? Are we using social media in a way that would please God? That doesn’t mean we should only post Bible verses. But we should always try to be aware of God’s voice and be ambassadors for Christ in whatever we’re doing. Everything Jesus did came from His love for others. ‘Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.’ Before posting anything, we should ask ourselves if it’s coming from a place of love for others.
Col 1-2; John 18:25-40; Ps 105:1-7; Prov 30:1-4
Psalm 142:4 NKJV
Women who feel isolated and lonely often look to their husbands to satisfy what has been called their “soul hunger.” It’s a role many men have never handled very well. And modern life hasn’t helped.
A century ago, great fellowship and camaraderie existed between wives and mothers. They cooked together, went to church together, and grew old together. And when a baby was born, aunts, grandmothers, and neighbors were there to show the new mother how to diaper, feed, and discipline.
But today the extended family has virtually disappeared, depriving women of that traditional source of support. Furthermore, modern families move every three or four years, preventing long-term friendships from developing. It’s also important for women to understand that some of their needs simply can’t be met by men.
In Anne of Green Gables, there’s a wonderful moment when teenage Anne says, “A bosom friend – an intimate friend, you know – a really kindred spirit to whom I can confide my inmost soul. I’ve dreamed of meeting her all my life.” She expresses a longing that’s common to women, but not so typical in men. It’s the need for intimate friendship. And it’s a key to understanding the depression that’s common among many women. The psalmist David captures it in these words: “There is no one who acknowledges me; refuge has failed me; no one cares for my soul.”
To combat this sense of isolation, it’s important for women to maintain a network of friends through such things as exercise classes, group hobbies, and church activities. The interchange between them may sound like casual talk, but the bonding that occurs makes life a lot more satisfying.
Soul food: Col 1-2; John 18:25-40; Ps 105:1-7; Prov 30:1-4
Psalm 142:5 NLV
Vrouens wat geïsoleerd en eensaam voel, verwag dikwels van hul mans om dit wat hul ‘sielshonger’ genoem word, te bevredig. Dis ‘n rol wat baie mans nog nooit goed hanteer het nie. Die moderne lewe help ook nie daarvoor nie.
‘n Eeu gelede het daar groot kameraadskap tussen vrouens en moeders geheers. Hulle het saam gekook, saam kerk toe gegaan en saam oud geword. Wanneer ‘n nuwe baba gebore is, was die tantes, oumas en bure daar om die nuwe ma te wys hoe om doeke te ruil, te voed en dissipline toe te pas. Vandag het die uitgebreide familie amper heeltemal verdwyn, wat ‘n vrou van daardie tradisionele bron van ondersteuning ontneem. Verder trek hedendaagse families ook elke drie of vier jaar, wat verhoed dat langtermyn vriendskappe gevorm word. Dis ook belangrik vir vrouens om te verstaan dat sommige van hulle behoeftes eenvoudig nie deur mans vervul kan word nie.
In die boek, Anne of Green Gables, is daar ‘n wonderlike oomblik wanneer Anne sê: “‘n Boesemvriendin – ‘n intieme vriendin, jy weet – regtig ‘n sielsgenoot aan wie ek my innerlike siel kan openbaar. Ek droom al my hele lewe lank om haar te ontmoet.” Sy verwoord ‘n begeerte wat algemeen by vrouens voorkom, maar nie so tipies by mans is nie – die behoefte aan intieme vriendskap. Die psalmdigter Dawid het dit as volg opgesom: ‘Ek kyk na regs, maar niemand sien my raak nie. Daar is vir my geen ontvlugting nie, en niemand gee vir my om nie.’
Om hierdie gevoel van isolasie te bekamp, is dit belangrik vir vrouens om ‘n netwerk van vriende deur aktiwiteite soos oefenklasse, groepstokperdjies en kerkaktiwiteite, te onderhou. Die interaksie tussen hulle mag dalk soos informele geselskap klink, maar dit is die vriendskapsband wat die lewe meer bevredigend maak.
Sielskos: Kol 1-2; Joh 18:25-40; Ps 105:1-7; Spr 30:1-4
2020-12-10
Luke 6:31 MSG
Imagine you’d gone to a top-rated, 5-star restaurant as a special treat, and ordered their most expensive steak. You’re really looking forward to your meal, but when it’s brought to you, there’s the tiniest piece of steak on the plate, just enough for one bite. So you complain, but the server explains that although it’s a small portion, it’s the best steak available anywhere in the world – it’s the quality, not the quantity, that matters. You probably wouldn’t be happy about that.
Sometimes, quality is more important than quantity, but there are some areas of our lives where both are equally important. One of those areas is in our relationships with others. We might think that it doesn’t matter how much time we give to our friends and loved ones as long as it’s quality time. But we can’t grow a friendship if we’re not prepared to invest time and effort into it. The Message paraphrases Luke 6:31 like this: ‘Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them!’ (MSG).
We need to think about how we would like our friends to treat us. Would we feel happy and valued if they chose to spend only a small amount of time with us once in a while? Our time is valuable to us, so when we choose to spend it with a friend or loved one, we’re showing how much we value them. If we’re only willing to give them a few minutes, what sort of message are we sending them? They might think their friendship isn’t all that important to us.
When it comes to building relationships, let’s make the decision to choose both quality and quantity, and show our friends and loved ones how much they mean to us.
Jos 22-24; John 18:12-24; Ps 150; Prov 29:22-27
Psalm 127:3 TM
Some people say it doesn’t matter how little time you spend with your children, as long as it’s quality time. But the logic of that concept seems suspect. Why do we have to choose between the virtues of quantity versus quality? We don’t accept that forced choice in any other area of our lives, so why is it only relevant to our children? We could illustrate it this way.
Suppose you’ve looked forward all day to eating at one of the finest restaurants in town. The waiter brings you a menu, and you order the most expensive steak in the house. But when the meal arrives, you see a tiny piece of meat about one inch square on the center of the plate. When you complain about the size of the steak, the waiter says, “I recognize that the portion is small, but it is the finest corn-fed beef money can buy. You will never find a better bite of meat than what we have served you tonight. As to the portion, I hope you understand that it’s not the quantity that matters; it’s the quality.” You would object, and for good reason. Why? Because both quantity and quality are important in many areas of our lives, including how we relate to our children.
They need our time, and the best we have to give them. The truth is, the “quantity versus quality” argument might be a poorly disguised rationalization for giving our children – neither. The Bible says, “Don’t you see that children are God’s best gift?” So when it comes to giving them time and attention, they deserve the best in both quantity and quality.
Soul food: Jos 22-24; John 18:12-24; Ps 150; Prov 29:22-27
