2025-11-30
Spreuke 29:20 NLV
Wanneer jy te vinnig praat, dra jy die verkeerde boodskap oor en kry resultate wat jy nie wil hê nie. Dis veral waar wanneer ons vir die beste onderhandel. Om impulsief en te veel te praat is nie tekens van krag nie, maar van swakheid en onsekerheid.
Hier is ‘n verhaal wat hierdie punt illustreer: ‘n Jong rekenaarverkoper genaamd Kurt was verheug toe een van sy besigheidskliënte belangstelling begin toon om ‘n gebruikte rekenaarstelsel te koop – een wat Kurt twee jaar gelede geïnstalleer het, maar wat onlangs met nuwe sagteware ‘n opgradering ondergaan het. Ná noukeurige konsultasie met sy hoofkantoor het Kurt ‘n prys van $800,000 vir die gebruikte stelsel vasgestel en al sy redes vir daardie bedrag skriftelik gedokumenteer. Toe hy gaan sit om met sy kliënt te begin onderhandel, het hy ‘n innerlike stem gehoor wat sê: ‘Wag. Laat hulle eerste die praatwerk doen.’
Die kliënt het vinnig die stilte met ‘n lang samevatting van hul eie navorsing oor hierdie spesifieke rekenaarstelsel se sterk- en swakpunte, die ouderdom van die toerusting en die behoefte aan nuwe sagteware, begin vul. ‘Kan jy die opgegradeerde sagteware by die transaksie insluit?’ het een van die kliënt se spanlede gevra. ‘Sekerlik,’ het Kurt geantwoord. Die kliënt het daaroor nagedink en gesê: ‘Ons sal jou $950,000 vir die stelsel gee, maar nie ‘n sent meer nie.’
Minder as ‘n uur later is die papierwerk afgehandel en Kurt het met ‘n baie beter prys as waaroor hy ooit kon droom, weggestap, nadat hy weinig meer as hallo gesê het. Die apostel Jakobus skryf: ‘My geliefde broers en susters, wees altyd gou om te luister, nie te gou om te praat nie, en nie te gou om kwaad te word nie’ (Jakobus 1:19 NLV).
Sielskos: Jer 31:31-37; Heb 8:1-13
Proverbs 29:20 NIV
When you speak too quickly, you can send the wrong signal and get results you don’t want. This is particularly so when you’re negotiating for the best deal. Speaking impulsively, and overtalking, are not signs of strength but of weakness and insecurity.
Here is a story that illustrates the point: A young computer salesman named Kurt was delighted when one of his business clients expressed interest in buying a used computer system – one that Kurt had installed two years ago but that had recently been replaced with an upgrade. After careful consultation with his head office, Kurt fixed a price of $800,000.00 for the used system and documented in writing all his reasons for requesting that amount. As he sat down to negotiate, he heard an inner voice saying, “Wait. Let them do the initial talking.”
The buyers quickly filled the silence with a long rundown of their own research about this particular computer system’s strengths and weaknesses, the age of the equipment, and the need for new software. “Can you throw upgraded software into the deal?” one of the buyers asked. “Sure,” Kurt offered. The buyers then said, “We will give you $950,000.00 for the system, but not a penny more.”
Less than an hour later, the paperwork was signed, and Kurt walked away with a much better deal than he ever imagined, having said little more than thank-you. The apostle James writes, “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak” (James 1:19 NIV).
Soul food: Jer 31:31-37; Heb 8:1-13
2025-11-29
Spreuke 25:28 NLV
In Bybelse tye is stede met hoë mure vir beskerming rondom hulle gebou. Hoekom? Omdat ‘n vyand wat sterk genoeg was om daardie mure af te breek, sterk genoeg was om die stad in te neem. Nou verstaan jy hierdie Skrifgedeelte: ‘Iemand wat homself nie in bedwang kan hou nie, is soos ‘n stad sonder ‘n muur wat beskerming bied.’
‘n Onbekende digter het ‘The Man in the Glass’ geskryf. Dit lui as volg: ‘When you get what you want in your struggle for self, and the world makes you king for a day, just go to the mirror and look at yourself, and see what that man has to say. For it isn’t your father or mother or wife who judgment upon you must pass, the fellow whose verdict counts the most in your life is the one staring back from the glass.
Some people may think you a straight-shooting chum and call you a wonderful guy, but the man in the glass says you’re only a bum if you can’t look him straight in the eye. He’s the fellow to please, never mind all the rest, for he’s with you clear to the end. And you’ve passed your most dangerous, difficult test, if the man in the glass is your friend. You may fool the whole world down the pathway of life and get pats on the back as you pass, but your final reward will be heartaches and tears if you’ve cheated the man in the glass.’
Die Bybel sê: ‘Maar as die Gees ons lewe beheer, is die gevolg… selfbeheersing…’ (Galasiërs 5:22 NLV). Die beste manier om selfbeheersing te hê, is om jou aan die Gees se beheer te onderwerp.
Sielskos: Josua 14-15; Joh 15:18-27; Ps 65; Spr 28:17-20
Proverbs 25:28 NIV
In Bible times cities were built with high walls around them for protection. Why? Because an enemy strong enough to tear down those walls was strong enough to take the city. Now you understand this Scripture: “Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.”
An anonymous poet wrote “The Man in the Glass.” Here it is: “When you get what you want in your struggle for self, and the world makes you king for a day, just go to the mirror and look at yourself, and see what that man has to say. For it isn’t your father or mother or wife who judgment upon you must pass, the fellow whose verdict counts the most in your life is the one staring back from the glass.
Some people may think you a straight-shooting chum and call you a wonderful guy, but the man in the glass says you’re only a bum if you can’t look him straight in the eye. He’s the fellow to please, never mind all the rest, for he’s with you clear to the end. And you’ve passed your most dangerous, difficult test, if the man in the glass is your friend. You may fool the whole world down the pathway of life and get pats on the back as you pass, but your final reward will be heartaches and tears if you’ve cheated the man in the glass.”
The Bible says, “The fruit of the Spirit is… forbearance [self-control]” (Galatians 5:22 NIV). And the best way to have self-control is to submit to “Spirit control.”
Soul food: Josh 14-15; John 15:18-27; Ps 65; Prov 28:17-20
2025-11-28
Matteus 9:36 NLV
Het God vir hom gesê om in Londen te bly, eerder as om na China toe te gaan? Toe Thomas Barnardo na Londen gekom het om opleiding in sendingwerk te kry, het ‘n tienjarige kind hom ‘n dak gewys waar elf hawelose seuns elke nag geslaap het. Barnardo het ‘ontroerd geraak,’ en probeer om vir hulle tydelike blyplek te kry. Ander middernagtelike reise het nog hawelose kinders te voorskyn gebring. China moes wag; God het Londen vir hom gegee.
Barnardo het ongeveer drieduisend eksemplare van die Skrif in kroeë en markplekke verkoop om geld vir sy werk onder die kinders in te samel. Hy is dikwels vervolg omdat hy hulle verdedig het en het selfs fisiese beserings opgedoen. Toe ‘n cholera-epidemie Londen in 1866 tref het hy onvermoeid gewerk, net om duisende te sien sterf. Sommige sou moedeloos tou opgegooi het, maar nie Barnardo nie. Hy het uiteindelik ‘n Home for Destitute Boys en later ‘n Village for Girls, geopen. Gedurende die volgende paar dekades het hy verskeie huise en dorpies gebou wat meer as sestigduisend weerlose en hawelose kinders versorg het. Gelukkig het hy lank genoeg gelewe om te sien hoe sewentien van die jongmense wat hy gered het, die bediening betree en die evangelie na vreemde lande geneem het.
Jy vra: ‘Hoe kan ek seker wees dat God my vir ‘n spesifieke behoefte roep?’ Omdat jy ontroerd sal raak. “Toe Jesus na die baie mense kyk, het Hy ontroerd geraak oor hulle seerkry en weerloosheid. Hulle was soos skape sonder ‘n wagter wat na hulle omsien. Daarop sê Hy… ‘Die oes is groot, maar die werkers wat dit moet insamel, is so bitter min. Hierdie oes is die Here s’n. Vra Hom dan om werkers vir sy oesland te voorsien'” (verse 36-38 NLV).
Sielskos: Josua 11-13; Joh 15:5-17; Ps 14; Spr 28:13-16
