2022-02-28
Hebrews 13:17 NCV
If we want to be in a position of authority and leadership one day, we have to first learn to respect authority. If we don’t, we won’t really understand what it means to be a follower, and we’ll have no credibility with the people we’re leading because we wouldn’t do what we’re expecting of them. Films, books and TV has a tendency to glamorise rebels and turn them into heroes.
Occasionally in real life, it can take a rebellious attitude to be the catalyst for a much-needed change to happen. But it’s not a strategy we should use regularly for everything in life. Constantly fighting against those in authority (especially if the reason for our defiance is just because the person has authority) can lead to all kinds of problems. The Bible has a lot to say about respecting those in authority. Here are some examples:
1) ‘Children, obey your parents as the Lord wants, because this is the right thing to do. “Honour your father and mother.” This is the first command that has a promise with it – “Then everything will be well with you, and you will have a long life on the earth”‘ (Ephesians 6:1-3 NCV).
2) ‘Obey your leaders and act under their authority. They are watching over you, because they are responsible for your souls.’
3) ‘The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted’ (Romans 13:1-2 NIV).
4) ‘I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people – for kings and all those in authority…This is good, and pleases our Saviour’ (1 Timothy 2:1-3 NIVUK).
Exo 7-9; Luke 12:13-21; Ps 61; Pro 6:16-19
2 Corinthians 12:15 NLT
Helping people brings great fulfillment. When you spend your day serving others, you can lay your head down at night and sleep soundly. And even if you have spent much of your life chasing selfish gain, it’s not too late to have a change of heart. Even Charles Dickens’ Scrooge discovered you can turn your life around and make a difference for others.
That’s what Alfred Nobel did. He was shocked when he saw his obituary in a newspaper. (His brother had died, and the editor mistakenly named Alfred instead in an uncomplimentary statement, because the explosives his company produced and profited from had killed many people.) So, Nobel vowed to spend the rest of his life promoting peace and acknowledging contributions to humanity. That’s how the Nobel Prizes came into being!
When you get outside of yourself and make a contribution to others, you really begin to live. Unselfishness is its own reward; it’s not dependent on the response of others. This is the principle by which the apostle Paul lived: “I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me” (v. 15 NLT).
When you see a four-year-old, you expect selfishness. But when you see it in a forty-year-old, it’s not very attractive, is it? Of all the qualities you can pursue, unselfishness seems to make the biggest difference toward cultivating other virtues. Yes, it goes against the grain of human nature. But if you can learn to think unselfishly and become a giver, it becomes easier to develop other virtues, such as gratitude, love, respect, patience, and discipline.
Soul food: Exo 7-9; Luke 12:13-21; Ps 61; Pro 6:16-19
2 Korintiërs 12:15 NLV
Om mense te help, bring groot vervulling mee. Wanneer jy jou dae gebruik om ander te dien, kan jy jou kop in die aand neerlê en rustig slaap. Selfs al het jy die meeste van jou lewe bestee om selfsugtige winste na te jaag, is dit nooit te laat om jou hart te verander nie.
Dis wat Alfred Nobel gedoen het. Hy was geskok toe hy sy doodsberig in die koerant sien. (Sy broer het gesterf en die redakteur het foutiewelik Alfred se naam in die berig genoem, omdat die plofstof wat sy maatskappy gemaak het, baie mense doodgemaak het.) Dus het Nobel besluit om die res van sy lewe daaraan te wy om vrede te bevorder en erkenning te gee aan bydraes tot die mensdom. Dis hoe die idee van die Nobelpryse ontstaan het!
Wanneer jy buite jouself kyk en ‘n bydrae aan ander mense maak, begin jy werklik lewe. Onselfsugtigheid is sy eie beloning; dit hang nie van ander mense se reaksie af nie. Dis die beginsel waarvolgens die apostel Paulus gelewe het: ‘Ek sou baie graag alles wou spandeer vir julle lewe, ja, ook myself. As ek julle uitermate liefhet, hoe werk dit dat julle my dan minder liefhet?’ (vers 15 NLV).
Wanneer jy ‘n vierjarige sien, verwag jy selfsug. Wanneer jy dit egter in ‘n veertigjarige sien, is dit nie baie aantreklik nie. Van al die kwaliteite wat jy kan najaag, blyk onselfsugtigheid die grootste verskil te maak om ander deugde aan te kweek. Ja, dit dreun teen die menslike aard in. As jy egter leer om op ‘n onselfsugtige wyse te dink en ‘n gewer te word, word dit makliker om ander deugde soos dankbaarheid, liefde, respek, geduld en dissipline, te ontwikkel.
Sielskos: Eks 7-9; Luk 12:13-21; Ps 61; Spr 6:16-19
2022-02-27
Ephesians 5:16 NASB
The life of John Wesley is a great example of the scriptural principle ‘making the most of your time’. During his lifetime, he wrote, edited and published a huge amount of work. Among other things, he produced a four-volume commentary on the entire Bible, a five-volume work on natural philosophy, a four-volume work on church history, and a dictionary of the English language. He also wrote histories of England and Rome; books about the languages of Hebrew, Latin, Greek, French, and English; three works on medicine; six volumes of church music; and seven volumes of sermons; and he edited a library of fifty volumes known as the ‘Christian Library’.
Even for a very productive person, that sounds like a full-time effort. But he still made time for God and ministry. He averaged three sermons a day for fifty-four years and preached over 44,000 times in his life. His work meant that he travelled more than 200,000 miles – that’s about 5,000 miles a year. Wesley packed so much into each day!
Today, we have instant communication, travelling is much faster and easier, plus countless other things designed to make everyday tasks quicker and more convenient. Surely we can spare a few minutes for God! When we feel Him urging us to spend time with Him or to do something for His kingdom, let’s remember John Wesley’s example and willingly give our time to God. ‘Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity’ (v.15-16 NIV).
Ruth 1:3-18; John 6:41-69
Ephesians 5:16 NAS
The life of John Wesley is a great example of the scriptural principle “making the most of your time.” He averaged three sermons a day for fifty-four years, preaching a total of more than 44,000 times in his life. In doing this he traveled by horseback and carriage more than 200,000 miles – about 5,000 miles a year.
Even for a very productive man, that would seem to be a full-time effort. Still, Wesley found time to write and edit. His published works include a four-volume commentary on the entire Bible, a five-volume work on natural philosophy, a four-volume work on church history, and a dictionary of the English language. He also wrote histories of England and Rome; grammars on the Hebrew, Latin, Greek, French, and English languages; three works on medicine; six volumes of church music; and seven volumes of sermons; and he edited a library of fifty volumes known as the “Christian Library.” Each day he rose at 4 a.m. and didn’t go to bed until 10 p.m., allowing only brief periods for meals. Yet he declared, “I have more hours of private retirement than any man in England.”
Our days are like identical suitcases – all the same size. But some pack more into them than others. These are purpose-driven, goal-oriented people – unlike the man whose tombstone read, “When it came time to die, I discovered I had not lived.” So heed this Scripture: “Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity” (vv. 15-16 NIV).
Soul food: Ruth 1:3-18; John 6:41-69
