2022-10-13
1 Korintiërs 13:5 NLV
Wanneer jy op dit wat jy het om te bied eerder as die behoeftes van ander mense fokus, kom hulle dit agter en verloor gou belangstelling. Jy kan selfs in ‘n poging om jou geloof te deel so verdiep raak in jou aanbieding en om ‘resultate te kry,’ dat jy die ander persoon koud laat.
In sy boek, Presenting to Win, wys Jerry Weissman uit dat wanneer mense kommunikeer, hulle te veel op die kenmerke van hul produk of diens fokus, in plaas daarvan om die vraag: ‘Kan jy my help?’ te beantwoord. Die sleutel, sê Weissman, is om op die voordele, nie die kenmerke nie, te fokus.
Hy skryf: “‘n Kenmerk is ‘n feit of eienskap van jou of jou maatskappy, die produkte wat jy verkoop of die idee wat jy voorlê. ‘n Voordeel, daarenteen, is ‘n feit of eienskap wat jou gehoor sal help. Wanneer jy mense wil oortuig, is dit nooit genoeg om die kenmerke van dit wat jy verkoop aan te bied nie; elke kenmerk moet in ‘n voordeel vertaal word. Waar ‘n kenmerk dalk irrelevant tot die behoeftes of belangstellings van jou gehoor mag wees, is ‘n voordeel, by definisie, altyd relevant.”
Om vir die ander persoon om te gee, moet altyd jou beweegrede en beginpunt wees. Paulus skryf: ‘Al sou ek enige taal op aarde of selfs in die hemel kon praat, maar ek kom die liefde kort, het ek ‘n galmende trom of ‘n klinkende simbaal geword… En al sou ek al my besittings vir die armes gee en selfs my liggaam opoffer sodat ek my daarop kon beroem, maar ek kom die liefde kort, sou dit my niks help nie’ (verse 1, 3 NLV).
Jy moet dus eerstens vir ander mense omgee.
Sielskos: 1 Sam 27-31; Joh 3:1-8; Ps 110; Spr 23:6-9
1 Corinthians 13:5 MSG
When you focus on what you have to offer instead of the needs of others, they discern it and quickly lose interest. Even in an endeavor as noble as sharing your faith, you can become so engrossed in your presentation and in “getting results” that you leave the other person cold.
In his book Presenting to Win, Jerry Weissman points out that when people communicate, they focus too much on the features of their product or service instead of answering the question, “Can you help me?” The key, says Weissman, is to focus on the benefits, not the features.
He writes: “A feature is a fact or quality about you or your company, the products you sell, or the idea you’re advocating. By contrast, a benefit is how that fact or quality will help your audience. When you seek to persuade, it’s never enough to present the features of what you’re selling; every feature must be translated into a benefit. Whereas a feature may be irrelevant to the needs or interests of your audience, a benefit, by definition, is always relevant.”
Caring about the other person must always be your motive and starting point. Paul writes: “If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate… If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake… as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love” (vv. 1, 3 MSG).
Bottom line: First, you must care about others.
Soul food: 1 Sam 27-31; John 3:1-8; Ps 110; Prov 23:6-9
2022-10-12
Revelation 21:5 NIV
It’s said that the Titanic sank because of cheap rivets and poor planning. Faced with a shortage of quality bolts, the shipbuilders used substandard ones that popped when the ship hit the iceberg. So, how sturdy are the bolts of your faith? Reinforce them daily with God’s Word, seasons of in-depth prayer, and fortifying fellowship.
Describing signs of the end times, Jesus said, “All these are the beginning of birth pains” (Matthew 24:8 NIV), and birth pains signal the onset of the final push. The obstetrician says, “This will hurt for a while, but it’s going to get better,” and Jesus offers us the same assurance about end-time events. We’re in the final hours – just a few pushes away from delivery.
John said: “I saw ‘a new heaven and… earth,’… the first heaven and… earth had passed away, and… the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven… prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying… ‘God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be… their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’ He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!'” (Revelation 21:1-5 NIV).
People everywhere are searching for answers. So don’t isolate, engage! Your goal isn’t to get out of this world in one piece; it’s to take as many people as you can to heaven along with you.
Soul food: 1 Sam 24-26; John 2:12-25; Ps 23; Prov 23:4-5
Openbaring 21:5 NLV
Daar word gesê dat die Titanic as gevolg van goedkoop boute wat uitgeskiet het toe die skip die ysberg tref en swak beplanning gesink het. Hoe stewig is die boute in jou geloof? Versterk hulle daagliks met God se Woord, in-diepte gebed en versterkende gemeenskap.
Jesus het die tekens van die eindtye as volg beskryf: ‘Al hierdie dinge is geboortepyne, die begin van die nuwe tyd’ (Matteus 24:8 AFFR83), en die geboortepyne teken die aanvang van die finale drukking aan. ‘n Verloskundige sê: ‘Dit sal vir ‘n ruk baie seer wees, maar dit gaan beter word,’ en Jesus bied aan ons dieselfde versekering rakende die gebeure wat in die eindtyd gaan plaasvind. Ons bevind onsself in die laaste ure – net ‘n klein rukkie vanaf die geboorte van die nuwe tyd.
Johannes het gesê: ‘Toe het ek ‘n nuwe hemel en ‘n nuwe aarde gesien; want die eerste hemel en die eerste aarde het verbygegaan en die see het nie meer bestaan nie. Ek het ook… die nuwe Jerusalem… uit die hemel sien neerkom… soos ‘n bruid wat vir haar eggenoot mooigemaak is. Ek het toe ‘n kragtige stem van die troon af hoor sê: “Kyk, die tentwoning van God is nou onder die mense opgeslaan. Hy sal by hulle bly, en hulle sal sy volke wees en God sal self by hulle wees as hulle God. Hy sal elke traan van hulle oë afvee en die dood sal glad nie meer bestaan nie. Ook hartseer of smartkrete of pyn sal glad nie meer bestaan nie. Die ou dinge het eenvoudig verbygegaan.’ Hy wat op die troon sit, het toe gesê: ‘Kyk, Ek maak alle dinge nuut…'” (Openbaring 21:1-5 NLV).
Jou doel is nie om in een stuk uit hierdie wêreld te gaan nie, maar om soveel mense as moontlik saam met jou hemel toe te neem.
Sielskos: 1 Sam 24-26; Joh 2:12-25; Ps 23; Spr 23:4-5
2022-10-11
1 Corinthians 14:8 CEV
No matter how great your vision is, if you’re not someone people are willing to follow, it will never be realized. Who you are matters! The most important message you can share is yourself. Here are six thoughts on good leadership:
(1) Trust connects people to a leader’s vision; without it, they will be disconnected. With it, they will get on board and help move the vision forward.
(2) Leadership isn’t just about what you do; it’s about inspiring and encouraging others. Good leaders bring out the best in people by sharing the best in themselves.
(3) Just because you’re the leader, don’t run people over! Abraham Lincoln said, “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” With power comes the responsibility to serve, develop, and empower others. By helping them grow, you grow.
(4) Rules without relationship lead to resistance. You can have all the rules you want, but if you don’t invest in people and develop a relationship with them, they will rebel.
(5) Paul says, “If a bugle call isn’t clear, how would you know to get ready for battle?” So lead with optimism, enthusiasm, and positive energy, and weed out pessimism and negativity. Focus on solutions, not complaints. Philosopher Nicholas Murray Butler said, “Optimism is essential to achievement, and it is also the foundation of courage and true progress.”
(6) Good leaders don’t have all the answers, but they build a team that has – or can get them. Success is a process, not a destination. Winning is a by-product of teamwork, focus, and commitment. To succeed, focus on the people and the process, not the outcome.
Soul food: 1 Sam 20:30-23:29; John 2:1-11; Ps 131; Prov 23:1-3
