2024-09-24
Proverbs 3:13 NIV
The wise old adage goes, “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” Sometimes what people need more than your money is your wisdom. By taking the time to share with them the insights and wisdom you have learned through your life’s experiences, you’re investing in their future. What a gift!
But that means you must never stop learning. Sometimes we stop learning because we become complacent. We believe we have grown enough, or we want only to make the most of what we already have in terms of skill and knowledge. That’s when we start to plateau and then decline. We lose our innovative spirit. We begin to think about being efficient instead of breaking new ground. We cut costs instead of investing in growth. Our vision becomes very limited. And instead of playing to win, we start playing not to lose.
We all love doing what we’re good at, but being good at something requires us to keep our skills sharp. Less skill leads to less enthusiasm and eventually to discontent. If we reach this stage, we start looking behind us because that’s where our best days are. We think about the good old days, the glory days. At that point, we’re only a few short steps from obsolescence.
Nobody wants to learn from a has-been. If you want to give until you have given all you have, you must keep growing until you can grow no more. “Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding.”
Soul food: Zech 9-11; Luke 23:13-25; Ps 34; Prov 24:29-31
Spreuke 3:13 NLV
Daar is ‘n ou gesegde wat lui: ‘Gee ‘n man ‘n vis en jy voed hom vir een dag, maar leer hom om vis te vang en jy voed hom vir ‘n leeftyd.’ Soms het mense jou wysheid meer as jou geld nodig. Deur die tyd te neem om met hulle die insigte en wysheid wat jy deur jou lewenservarings geleer het te deel, belê jy in hul toekoms.
Dit beteken egter dat jy nooit moet ophou leer nie. Soms hou ons op leer omdat ons selfvoldaan geword het. Ons glo dat ons genoeg gegroei het, of ons wil net die meeste maak van wat ons alreeds in terme van vaardighede en kennis het. Dis dan wanneer ons ons innoverende gees verloor. Ons begin dink aan hoe om doeltreffend te wees, eerder as om nuwe grond te breek. Ons sny kostes in plaas daarvan om in groei te belê. Ons visie word baie beperk. In plaas daarvan om te speel om te wen, begin ons speel om nie te verloor nie.
Ons almal hou daarvan om dit waarmee ons goed is te doen, maar om goed met iets te wees beteken dat ons ons vaardighede skerp moet hou. Minder vaardigheid lei tot minder entoesiasme en uiteindelik tot ontevredenheid. Wanneer ons hierdie vlak bereik begin ons terugkyk, omdat dit is waar ons beste dae lê. Ons dink aan die ou dae, die glorieryke dae. Op daardie punt is ons net ‘n paar kort treë agter veroudering.
Niemand wil by iemand leer wat nie meer relevant is nie. As jy wil gee tot jy alles gegee het wat jy het, moet jy aanhou groei totdat jy nie meer kan groei nie. ‘Die mens wat wysheid kry, is gelukkig. Dit gaan goed met die mens wat insig kry.’
Sielskos: Sag 9-11; Luk 23:13-25; Ps 34; Spr 24:29-31
2024-09-23
Filemon vers 6
As jy met selfwaarde sukkel, word die antwoord in die wete van wat jy in Christus het en wie jy in Hom is, gevind. Hier is ‘n paar praktiese stappe wat jy kan neem om jou selfwaarde en selfvertroue op te bou:
1) Moenie op ‘n negatiewe wyse oor jouself praat nie. In plaas daarvan om op jou swakhede en foute te fokus, begin om elke goeie ding wat jy in Christus het, te erken en te verbaliseer. Paulus skryf: ‘Deurdat ons Hom regtig ken, het sy Goddelike krag ons alles laat kry wat ons nodig het om naby aan Hom te lewe. Hy het ons geroep om sy heerlikheid en goedheid te ontvang! Deur hierdie selfde krag het Hy sy kosbaarste en allergrootste beloftes vir ons laat waar word. Die gevolg hiervan is dat julle deel gekry het aan sy Goddelike natuur…’ (2 Petrus 1:3-4 NLV).
2) Hou op om jouself met ander te vergelyk. Een dag het Petrus na Johannes toe gewys en gevra: ‘…Wat van hom, Here?’ (Johannes 21:21 NLV). Jesus het hom tereggewys deur te sê: ‘…wat het dit met jou te doen? Volg jy net vir My!’ (vers 22 NLV). In plaas daarvan om jou met ander te vergelyk, werk daaraan om meer soos Christus te wees.
3) Laat God jou waarde bepaal. As verloste kind sien God jou as geregtig in Christus; dus word jy altyd deur Hom aanvaar (sien 2 Korintiërs 5:21).
4) Hou jou foute in perspektief. Dis goed om te sien waar jy nodig het om te verbeter, maar maak seker dat jy jou vordering waardeer.
5) Ontdek die ware bron van selfvertroue. Wanneer jy jou vertroue in God plaas, kan jy nie help om ‘n gesonde houding te hê nie. Doen dus net jou bes en los die resultate aan Hom oor.
Sielskos: Sag 5-8; Luk 23:1-12; Ps 39; Spr 24:26-28
Philemon 1:6 ERV
If you’re struggling with self-worth, the answer is knowing what you have and who you are “in Christ.” Paul writes, “I pray that… you understand every blessing we have in Christ.” Here are some practical steps you can take to increase your sense of confidence and self-worth:
(1) Don’t speak negatively about yourself. Instead of focusing on your weaknesses and flaws, start acknowledging and verbalizing every good thing you “have in Christ.” Peter writes: “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him… he has given us great and precious promises. These… promises… enable you to share his divine nature” (2 Peter 1:3-4 NLT).
(2) Avoid comparing yourself to others. One day Peter pointed to John and asked, “Lord, what about him?” (John 21:21 NIV). Jesus corrected him by saying, “What is that to you? You must follow me” (v. 22 NIV). Instead of comparing yourself with others, work on being conformed to the character qualities of Christ.
(3) Let God determine your worth. As His redeemed child, God sees you clothed in the righteousness of Christ; therefore, you are always loved and accepted by Him (See 2 Corinthians 5:21).
(4) Keep your flaws in perspective. It’s okay to see where you need to improve, but make sure you appreciate your progress.
(5) Discover the true source of confidence. If you place your confidence in God, you can’t help but have a healthy attitude. So, do your best and leave the results to Him.
Soul food: Zech 5-8; Luke 23:1-12; Ps 39; Prov 24:26-28
2024-09-22
Exodus 13:18 NIV
The Bible says, “When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, ‘If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.’ So God led the people around by the desert road” (vv. 17-18 NIV).
There is a lesson here for you. God knows where you are on your spiritual journey, and He is directing you accordingly, even when it seems like a roundabout way. “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives” (Psalm 37:23 NLT).
The shortest route from Egypt to the promised land was through enemy territory, and God knew His people were not ready for battle. “God said, ‘If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.’ So God led the people around by the desert road.” Getting God’s people out of Egypt proved to be the easy part; getting Egypt out of God’s people proved to be the hard part. After forty generations of depending on Pharaoh, they needed to know God, learn His ways, and trust Him. So, He arranged their journey accordingly.
Are you having a wilderness experience at the moment? Be encouraged. The fulfillment of what God promised you may be taking longer than you thought, but it’s not time wasted. And God is not punishing you; He is training you for your destiny. What should you do? (1) Spend time with Him in prayer and His Word. (2) Lean less on yourself and more on God. (3) Draw on His grace and follow His guidance.
Soul food: 1 Kings 17:1-6; 1 Kings 18:16-39; 1 Kings 19:9-18; 2 Kings 2:1-12
