2022-05-11
Matteus 25:21 NLV
In die Skrif, beteken betroubaarheid om standvastig, stabiel, betroubaar en konsekwent te wees. Beskryf hierdie karaktereienskappe jou? Betroubaarheid betaal groot dividende by God. “‘n Betroubare man sal geseën word…” (Spreuke 28:20 NLV). Jesus het gesê: ‘…baie is geroep, maar min uitverkies’ (Matteus 20:16 AFR53). Hoekom is dit so? Omdat talent die deur vir jou kan oopmaak en vir jou die werk kan kry, maar karakter en betroubaarheid sal jou in die werk hou. Wanneer dit by betroubaarheid kom, sal God jou op twee maniere toets:
1) Jou betroubaarheid in iemand anders se visie. ‘En as julle nie betroubaar is met ander mense se geld nie, waarom sal julle met julle eie geld vertrou word?’ (Lukas 16:12 NLV). As jy krities, bytend, klaend of kompeterend is of jouself gedurig met ander vergelyk, word jy vir dit wat God vir jou in gedagte het, gediskwalifiseer. Betroubaarheid vereis dat jy met liefde en nederigheid dien.
2) Jou betroubaarheid in klein dinge. ‘Die eienaar het hom geprys en gesê: ‘Uitstekend! Jy is ‘n voortreflike slaaf; een op wie ek kan staatmaak. In die kleine het jy jou betroubaar bewys. Daarom gaan ek nog baie groter verantwoordelikhede aan jou toevertrou… Aan hulle wat dit wat aan hulle toevertrou is goed gebruik, sal nog meer gegee word… Maar van hulle wat niks kan wys nie, sal selfs die bietjie wat hulle het, ook nog weggeneem word’ (Matteus 25:23,29 NLV).
God wil weet dat Hy jou kan vertrou. Jy bewys dat Hy kan deur hoe goed jy ander dien en deur jou betroubaarheid in die klein dinge. Hierdie is bewese Bybelse beginsels wat nie net in geestelike kwessies werk nie, maar ook in die alledaagse lewe. Neem dus vandag ‘n paar oomblikke om met gebed jouself die volgende vraag te vra: ‘Is ek betroubaar?’ As jy is, sal God jou seën.
Sielskos: Num 16-18; Matt 8:1-17; Ps 44:1-8; Spr 11:9
Matthew 25:21 NKJV
In Scripture, to be faithful means to be steady, stable, dependable, and consistent. Do those attributes describe you? They should, because faithfulness pays big dividends with God. “A faithful man will abound with blessings” (Proverbs 28:20 NKJV). Jesus said, “Many are called, but few chosen” (Matthew 20:16 NKJV). Why is that? Because talent may open the door and get you the job, but character and faithfulness will keep you there.
When it comes to faithfulness, God will test you in two ways: (1) Your faithfulness in someone else’s vision. “If you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?” (Luke 16:12 NKJV). If you’re critical, caustic, complaining, competitive, or constantly comparing yourself with others, you will be disqualified for what God has in mind for you. Faithfulness calls for serving with love and humility.
(2) Your faithfulness in small things. “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things… For to everyone who has, more will be given… but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away'” (Matthew 25:23, 29 NKJV). God wants to know He can trust you. You prove that by how well you serve others and by your faithfulness in small things. These are proven biblical principles that don’t just work in spiritual matters, but in everyday life.
So today, take a few moments to prayerfully ask yourself the question, “Am I faithful?” When you are, God will bless you.
Soul food: Num 16-18; Matt 8:1-17; Ps 44:1-8; Pro 11:9
Matthew 25:21 NKJV
In Scripture, to be faithful means to be steady, stable, dependable, and consistent. Do these attributes describe you? They should, because faithfulness is very important to God. ‘A faithful person will be richly blessed’ (Proverbs 28:20 NIV). Jesus said, ‘Many are called, but few chosen’ (Matthew 20:16 NKJV). Why is that? Because talent might open the door and get us the job, but it’s our character and faithfulness that will keep us there.
When it comes to faithfulness, God will test us in two ways: 1) Our faithfulness in someone else’s vision. ‘If you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?’ (Luke 16:12 NLT). If we’re critical, caustic, complaining, competitive, or constantly comparing ourselves with others, we won’t be fit and ready for what God has in mind for us. Faithfulness calls for serving with love and humility.
2) Our faithfulness in small things. ‘The master said, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities… To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given… But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away”‘ (Matthew 25:23, 29 NLT). God wants to know He can trust us, and we prove it by how well we serve others and by our faithfulness in small things.
These are biblical principles that don’t just work in spiritual things, but in everyday life too! So today, take a few moments to prayerfully ask yourself the question, ‘Am I faithful?’ When you are, be ready for God to do some amazing things with you!
Num 16-18; Matt 8:1-17; Ps 44:1-8; Pro 11:9
2022-05-10
Philippians 3:14 NIVUK
Paul wrote: ‘I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you’ (v.14-15 NIVUK). Paul’s description paints a picture of a Christian aiming for a goal or a target. In Paul’s day, a target would have been hit by an arrow.
If you’ve ever tried hitting a target with an arrow, you’ll know this: 1) Your aim must be unbroken by distractions. When you have the bullseye in your sight, something as insignificant as taking a breath at the wrong moment can make you miss the mark you’re aiming for. So Paul’s saying: ‘Forget what’s behind you and around you and stay focused on winning the prize.’ He isn’t referring to your salvation. Jesus already purchased that and gives it to you freely by His grace. Paul’s talking about fulfilling your God-given destiny and getting the reward that waits beyond it.
2) Your arrow has to have the right amount of power behind it. Otherwise, it’ll start to drop off before it even reaches the target. In life, your power comes from the Holy Spirit. Jesus said: ‘You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth’ (Acts 1:8 NKJV).
So today, aim for the target that God’s set out for you!
Num 14-15; Matt 7:15-29; Ps 37:32-40; Pro 11:7-8
Filippense 3:14 AFR53
Paulus skryf: ‘…ek vergeet die dinge wat agter is en strek my uit na wat voor is, en jaag na die doel om die prys te verkry van die hoë roeping van God in Christus Jesus. Laat ons almal dan wat volmaak is, so gesind wees; en as julle anders gesind is, sal God dit ook aan julle openbaar’ (verse 14-15 AFR53).
Paulus beskryf die Christen as ‘n skerpskutter. In Paulus se tyd sou die doel of teiken deur ‘n pyl getref word, maar in ons tyd kan die doel ook by ‘n skietbaan getref word. As jy al ooit op ‘n teiken geskiet het, weet jy die volgende:
1) Jy moet afleidings ignoreer. Wanneer jy die teiken in die oog het, kan iets so onbeduidend soos om op die verkeerde plek asem te haal, veroorsaak dat jy dit mis. Wat sê Paulus dus? Eenvoudig die volgende: ‘Vergeet wat agter jou en rondom jou is en bly daarop gefokus om die prys te verkry.’ Hy verwys nie hier na jou verlossing nie. Jesus het dit alreeds gekoop en vrylik deur genade aan jou gegee. Nee, hy verwys hier na die vervulling van jou Godgegewe doelwit en die beloning wat daarna op jou wag.
2) Jou koeël moet die regte hoeveelheid buskruit bevat. Anders sal dit nie die teiken haal nie. Kry jy die idee? Jou buskruit is jou krag! Waar kom jou krag vandaan? Van die Heilige Gees! Jesus het gesê: ‘Maar wanneer die Heilige Gees oor julle kom, sal julle krag ontvang en oral mense eerstehands van My vertel – in Jerusalem, oor die hele Judea, in Samaria, [en by die werk en in jou verhoudings], en tot die uithoeke van die aarde’ (Handelinge 1:8 NLV). Die woord vir jou vandag is dus – mik vir die doel.
Sielskos: Num 14-15; Matt 7:15-29; Ps 37:32-40; Spr 11:7-8
