2022-10-31
Galatians 3:28 NKJV
In order to have a clique, you must exclude certain people. And to feel excluded hurts deeply. David experienced it: “The one who shared my food, has turned against me” (Psalm 41:9 NLT). Cliques are made up of weak people who are afraid to be different. They believe that as long as they’re with others who think and act like they do, they won’t be surprised or required to change. It may be human nature to crave this kind of consistency, but it’s dangerous.
Cliques in the workplace create dissension, resulting in a miserable atmosphere for others. People are no longer regarded as individuals but as being “on this person’s side” or “in that person’s corner.” Such cliques become nothing more than centers for gossip, backstabbing, affairs, and every imaginable mess people can create. Satan tempts us with the security of “the group” to prevent us from discovering our individual gifts and purposes and from doing God’s will.
If you’re in a clique, break free as quickly as you can! Reject the pressure to conform to groupthink. This mentality can have you unexpectedly doing things you never thought you would do – whether it’s lowering your principles or remaining quiet while the group criticizes someone. You may even fear being turned against by group members if you stand up for what’s right.
Cliques facilitate racism and sexism, age discrimination, and the biased behaviour accompanying them. They gain their strength from excluding those who are different. And no matter how you slice it, that’s prejudice! You are God’s child – as are your colleagues and other church members – and you should treat them right.
Soul food: Deut 18:9-18; Dan 2; Isa 47:5-15; Acts 16:16-34
Galasiërs 3:28 NLV
Die definisie van ‘n kliek is om sekere mense uit te sluit. Om uitgesluit te voel maak diep seer. Dawid het dit ervaar: ‘My beste vriend… selfs hy het sy rug op my gedraai’ (Psalm 41:10 NLV). Klieks bestaan uit swak mense wat bang is om anders te wees. Hulle dink dat solank hulle saam met ander mense is wat dieselfde as hulle dink en optree, sal hulle nie verras word of gedwing word om te verander nie. Dit mag dalk menslike natuur wees om na hierdie tipe konsekwentheid te smag, maar dis gevaarlik.
Klieks in die werkplek skep onenigheid, wat ‘n ellendige atmosfeer vir ander tot gevolg het. Mense word nie meer as individue nie, maar as ‘aan hierdie persoon se kant’ of ‘in daardie persoon se hoek,’ beskou. Sulke klieks word niks meer as die spil van skinderpraatjies, rugstekery, buite-egtelike verhoudings en elke denkbare gemors wat mense hulself op die hals kan haal, nie. Satan verlei ons met die sekuriteit van ‘die groep’ om ons te verhoed om ons individuele gawes en doelwitte te ontdek en God se wil te doen.
As jy in ‘n kliek is, maak jou so vinnig as moontlik los daarvan! Verwerp die druk om aan groepsdenke te voldoen. Hierdie mentaliteit kan jou onverwags dinge laat doen wat jy nooit gedink het jy sou doen nie – of dit nou is om jou beginsels te verlaag of stil te bly terwyl die groep iemand kritiseer.
Klieks fasiliteer rassisme, seksisme, ouderdomsdiskriminasie en die bevooroordeelde gedrag wat daarmee gepaard gaan. Hulle verkry hul mag deur diegene wat anders is, uit te sluit. Maak nie saak hoe mooi jy dit stel nie, dis blote vooroordeling! Jy is God se kind – net soos jou kollegas en ander gemeentelede – en jy moet hulle reg behandel.
Sielskos: Deut 18:9-18; Dan 2; Jes 47:5-15; Hand 16:16-34
2022-10-30
1 Petrus 3:11 NLV
Lees die volgende Skrifgedeeltes: ‘Doen julle bes om in vrede met almal te lewe…’ (Hebreërs 12:14 NLV). ‘Maar die wysheid wat van Bo kom, is in die eerste plek suiwer. Verder is dit vredeliewend, inskiklik, bedagsaam… Die vredemakers saai saad van vrede; hulle oes omdat hulle reg lewe voor God’ (Jakobus 3:17-18 NLV). ‘As jy die lewe wil liefhê en goeie dae wil beleef, moet jy jou tong weghou van kwaadpraat en jou lippe van leuens. Bly weg van die kwaad af, ja, doen wat goed is. Soek vrede, ja, jaag dit na!’ (1 Petrus 3:10-11 NLV).
Om ‘n gesonde middeweg te kry beteken nie dat jy dit wat jy waarlik glo of wie jy waarlik is, moet prysgee nie. Dit beteken nie dat jy kortpaaie moet neem of met tweede-beste tevrede moet wees omdat jy ongeduldig of vreesbevange is nie. Nee, ‘n gesonde middeweg gaan daaroor om ‘n wen-wen situasie vir beide partye te onderhandel. Dit beteken dat jy probeer om die situasie of probleem deur die ander persoon se oë te sien.
Om ‘n gesonde middeweg te probeer kry, is die karaktereienskap van gesonde verhoudings. Dit is aanloklik om iemand as ‘verkeerd’ of ‘selfsugtig’ af te skryf en te weier om enige ander perspektief behalwe jou eie te sien. Dis egter dan wat dit noodsaaklik is om jou trots agter te laat, uit die rol wat jy speel te tree en te probeer verstaan waar die ander persoon vandaan kom.
Was daar nie al tye wat jyself geduld, liefde en begrip nodig gehad het nie? Ja? Dan moet jy gewillig wees om dieselfde genade aan ander mense te bewys. Soms is ‘n bietjie gee-en-neem al wat nodig is om die verhouding te laat werk en dinge vir almal betrokke beter te laat uitdraai.
Sielskos: 2 Kon 6:1-7; Matt 14:22-33
1 Peter 3:11 NKJV
Read these Scriptures: “Pursue peace with all people” (Hebrews 12:14 NKJV). “The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield… the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace” (James 3:17-18 NKJV). “He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it” (1 Peter 3:10-11 NKJV).
Healthy compromise doesn’t mean giving up what you truly believe or who you truly are. It doesn’t mean taking shortcuts and relinquishing yourself to second- or third-best because you are impatient or fearful. No, healthy compromise is about discovering how to negotiate a win-win position for both sides. It calls for trying to see things through the eyes of the other person involved in the situation or problem. And healthy compromise is the characteristic of healthy relationships.
It’s tempting to write off someone as “wrong” or “selfish” and refuse to see any other perspective except your own. But this is when it’s critical to abandon your pride, to step outside the role you are playing, and to try to understand where the other person is coming from. A meat cleaver is required when you want a meal, but a fine surgical instrument is required when you want to heal.
Haven’t there been times when you yourself needed patience, love, and understanding? Yes? Then be willing to extend the same grace to others. Sometimes all that’s required is a little give-and-take to make the relationship work and for things to turn out better for everyone involved.
Soul food: 2 Kings 6:1-7; Matt 14:22-33
2022-10-29
Proverbs 20:13 NKJV
Zig Ziegler said, “When you do what you need to do when you need to do it, then…you can do what you want to do when you want to do it.” But you will never do what you need to do if you don’t set your alarm clock, arise, take dominion over the blankets, and go to work.” Solomon warns about the kind of sleep that crosses the line between rest and laziness.
(1) Too much sleep has a dulling influence. “As a door turns on its hinges, so does the lazy man on his bed” (Proverbs 26:14 NKJV).
(2) Too much sleep destroys ambition. “Laziness casts one into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger” (Proverbs 19:15 NKJV).
(3) Too much sleep causes poverty. “Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty” (Proverbs 20:13 NKJV).
(4) Too much sleep disappoints God. “How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep?” (Proverbs 6:9 NKJV).
(5) Too much sleep squanders golden opportunities. “He who gathers in summer is a wise son; he who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame” (Proverbs 10:5 NKJV).
One guy was asked by a potential employer, “Does hard work bother you?” He answered, “No, hard work doesn’t bother me in the least. I can lie down next to it and go right to sleep.” The Bible calls such a person a “sluggard.” His god is slumber, his bed is his altar, and his body is the sacrifice he readily offers. Seriously, unless you’re willing to work hard, all your prayers for success won’t rise any higher than the roof.
Soul food: 1 Tim 1-3; John 6:52-59; Ps 114; Prov 24:23-25
