2025-11-08
Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV
A perfectionist seeks to achieve nothing less than perfection. Dorothy Littell Greco writes: “I’ve been a perfectionist for as long as I can remember… I had to get A’s, had to win, and had to please everyone. Every mistake or perceived failure unleashed a torrent of self-condemnation… Perfectionism often [comes from] insecurity and a faulty understanding of grace. During the first few years… parents are meant to communicate through their words and actions that we’re… lovable, even though we do nothing to earn that love… But not all of us were the beneficiaries of such parenting. Many of our needs were met with frustration or even anger, which we interpreted as, ‘There’s something wrong with me.’ When that’s the case, over time, shame creeps in… [and] distorts our understanding of our self-worth.
The voice of perfectionism increased when I started following Jesus. I feared being judged and… excluded, [which] motivated me to prove my worth to my fellow Christians. Though I believed, theoretically, that I was saved by grace, I lived as if I had purchased salvation on credit and was accruing an enormous debt. I [lived] as if Jesus would tear up our ‘salvation contract’ the moment I made a mistake. As I began to understand that pride and a fear of mankind were driving my perfectionism, I confessed this as sin… [and] the chokehold started to loosen. Like the Samaritan woman at the well, I needed Jesus to break in and tenderly reorient me to his living water.”
Remember, you don’t have to be perfect to be a blessing to others – you just have to be real!
Soul food: 1 Chr 23:21-26:19; John 10:1-10; Ps 99; Prov 26:1-6
2025-11-07
1 Thessalonians 5:12 NCV
Paul writes to the church at Thessalonica and says, “Now, brothers and sisters, we ask you to appreciate those who work hard among you, who lead you in the Lord and teach you. Respect them with a very special love because of the work they do” (vv. 12-13 NCV). Consider these twenty-first century statistics:
(1) Fifty percent of pastors feel so disheartened that they would exit the ministry if they could, but they don’t know any other way to make a living.
(2) Fifty percent of ministers starting out won’t continue five years in the ministry.
(3) Only one out of every ten ministers will retire as ministers in some capacity.
(4) In America more than seventeen hundred pastors exited the ministry every month of 2011. There are many reasons why pastors leave the ministry. One reason is inadequate financial support and stress on the family. Paul addresses this: “Let the elders [pastors] who rule well be counted worthy of double honour [financial remuneration], especially those who labour in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,’ and, ‘The labourer is worthy of his wages'” (1 Timothy 5:17-18 NKJV).
Some pastors leave the ministry because they are the target of frequent criticism. Paul addresses this: “Do not receive an accusation against an elder [pastor] except from two or three witnesses” (v. 19 NKJV). So, pray for your pastor, and make it a point to show them your appreciation. God will bless you for it.
Soul food: 1 Chr 19:1-23:20; John 9:24-41; Ps 115; Prov 25:26-28
1 Tessalonisense 5:12 NLV
Paulus skryf aan die gemeente in Tessalonika en sê: ‘Liewe broers en susters, ons vra julle om erkenning te gee aan die mense wat hard onder julle werk. Hulle is julle leiers in die Here se werk en hou julle op die regte pad. Ter wille van die taak wat hulle het, moet julle met liefde baie eerbied aan hulle betoon…’ (verse 12-13 NLV). Oorweeg hierdie statistieke van die een-en-twintigste eeu:
1) Vyftig persent van predikers voel so moedeloos dat hulle die bediening sou verlaat as hulle kon, maar hulle ken geen ander manier om ‘n bestaan te maak nie.
2) Vyftig persent van predikante sal nie vyf jaar in die bediening uithou nie.
(3) Slegs een uit elke tien predikante sal as predikante in een of ander hoedanigheid aftree.
4) In Amerika het daar in 2011 elke maand meer as ‘n duisend sewehonderd predikante die bediening verlaat. Daar is baie redes waarom predikers die bediening verlaat. Een rede is onvoldoende finansiële ondersteuning en stres op die gesin. Paulus spreek dit aan: “Ouderlinge wat hulle werk goed doen, moet ook goed betaal word, veral dié wat hard werk in prediking én lering. Want die Skrif sê: ‘Moenie ‘n os verhinder om te eet terwyl hy die graan uittrap nie.’ En op ‘n ander plek: ‘Dié wat werk, verdien hulle loon'” (1 Timoteus 5:17-18 NLV).
Sommige predikers verlaat die bediening omdat hulle dikwels die teiken van gereelde kritiek is. Paulus spreek dit as volg aan: ‘Moenie na klagtes teen ‘n ouderling luister nie, tensy daar twee of drie getuies is wat hom aankla’ (vers 19 NLV). Bid dus vir jou pastoor en maak dit ‘n punt om jou waardering te bewys. God sal jou daarvoor seën.
Sielskos: 1 Kro 19:1-23:20; Joh 9:24-41; Ps 115; Spr 25:26-28
2025-11-06
Spreuke 4:7 NLV
Mentor Graham was so besig om sy studente se opdragte na te sien, dat hy nie die jong reus wat een dag ná skool in sy Illinois-klaskamer ingesluip het, raakgesien het nie. Hy het na ‘n ruk opgekyk om sy moeë oë te laat rus en toe die jongman raakgesien. Hy het hom dadelik as ‘n nuweling in die gemeenskap herken. Die knaap het reeds ‘n reputasie gehad dat hy nie bang was om sy vuiste te gebruik om sy argumente vir hom te wen nie.
‘n Mens sou kon verstaan as Graham se eerste gedagte sou wees: ‘Wat soek hy hier? Is ek in gevaar?’ Graham het egter die ses voet vier duim seun op en af gekyk en toe aangebied om hom met sy lees en skoolwerk te help. Toe die jongman ‘n uur later die klaskamer verlaat, het hy verskeie boeke onder sy arm gehad wat hy by Mentor Graham geleen het – met die belofte om vir nog boeke terug te kom.
Daar is ‘n goeie kans dat jy nog nooit van Mentor Graham gehoor het nie, reg? Hy was ‘n stil man en bereid om sy bes vir enige student wat oor sy pad kom, te doen. Sy leerling het egter beroemd geword. Sy naam? Abraham Lincoln! Graham het in Lincoln ‘n honger na kennis en ‘n begeerte om te leer raakgesien en die tyd geneem om in hom te belê. As gevolg hiervan het Lincoln gehelp om die geskiedenis te verander.
Die grootste belegging wat jy kan maak, is in mense. Salomo het geskryf: ‘Die verstandigste ding om te doen, is om eers wysheid te bekom. Wy jou daaraan toe om onderskeidingsvermoë te verkry.’ Wanneer jy hierdie wysheid en onderskeidingsvermoë ontvang – deel dit dan met ander!
Sielskos: 1 Kro 16-18; Joh 9:13-23; Ps 105:1-15; Spr 25:23-25
Proverbs 4:7 NKJV
Mentor Graham was so absorbed in evaluating the assignments he had given his students that he failed to notice the youthful giant who slouched into his Illinois schoolroom one day after school. After his eyes had adjusted to the brightness of the late afternoon sunshine, causing the husky young man to be in silhouette before him, he recognized the youth as a newcomer to the community. The lad already had a reputation for “whipping the living daylights” out of all the local toughs.
Graham would have been justified in thinking, “What does he want here? Am I in danger?” Rather, he looked up and down the six foot, four inches of muscle and ignorance before him and offered to help the lad with his reading and studies. When the young man left the schoolroom an hour later, he had several books under his arm – on loan from Mentor Graham with a promise of more in the future.
There is a good chance that you have never heard of Mentor Graham, right? He was a quiet man, simply willing to do his best for any student who came his way. His pupil, however, became more famous. His name? Abraham Lincoln! Graham recognized in Lincoln a hunger for knowledge and a desire to learn, and took the time to invest in him. And as a result, Lincoln helped change history.
The greatest investment you can make is in people. Solomon wrote, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” And when you get it, don’t keep it to yourself – pass it on.
Soul food: 1 Chr 16-18; John 9:13-23; Ps 105:1-15; Prov 25:23-25
