2020-10-21
Spreuke 2:6 NLV
Wat sê die mense in jou lewe vir jou? Versterk hulle jou geloof of laat hulle jou aan jouself twyfel? Net omdat mense vir jou iets sê, beteken nie dat dit so is nie.
In 1492 het die mense rondom Columbus gedink dat die aarde plat is. Die ‘kundiges’ het sy reisplanne ondersoek en gesê dat sy idee onmoontlik was. Columbus het egter nie van die kant van die aarde afgeval soos hulle voorspel het nie – hy het Amerika ontdek!
In dieselfde trant het Thomas Edison vir Henry Ford probeer oortuig om sy idee van ‘n motorkar te laat vaar, omdat hy oortuig was dat dit nie sou werk nie. Hy het vir Ford gesê: ‘Kom werk vir my en doen iets wat die moeite werd is.’ Alhoewel Edison ‘n groot uitvinder was, klink dit asof hy positief was oor wat hy kon doen en negatief was oor wat ander mense kon vermag. Die volgende keer wat jy in jou kar klim om êrens heen te gaan, moet jy bly wees dat Ford nie Edison se negatiewe uitkyk oor karre gehad het nie.
Moenie dat iemand anders se beperkende denke jou beperk nie. Selfs al is jy die enigste positiewe persoon in jou familie, wees die een wat ‘n optimistiese uitkyk in elke situasie het. Wat ons ‘algemene kennis’ noem, is oor die algemeen dikwels verkeerd! ‘Dit is tog die Here wat wysheid gee. Sy woorde gee kennis en insig.’
Het die mense wat vir jou sê: ‘Dit kan nie gedoen word nie,’ vir God by die situasie ingereken? Indien hulle nie het nie, moenie daaraan aandag gee nie. In plaas daarvan om na mense te luister wat jou laat twyfel, moet jy na die mense luister aan wie God wysheid, kennis en begrip gegee het.
Sielskos: 2 Sam 22:31-24:25; Joh 5:16-30; Ps 5; Spr 24:8-9
Proverbs 2:6 NKJV
Proverbs 2:6 tells us that ‘The LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.’ (NKJV). However, other people can bring the opposite, questioning our motives, God’s power, or generally bringing negativity. We can find ourselves surrounded by people who shake our belief in ourselves, and sometimes, even in God. Jesus warned us about that negativity.
The Message version of the Bible paraphrases His words to His disciples like this: ‘Don’t be naive. Some people will impugn your motives, others will smear your reputation’ (Matthew 10:17 MSG). Because of the imperfect world we have created, opposition from others is unfortunately an unavoidable part of living for God. It’s important for us to use the Godly wisdom that Proverbs mentions, and discern which of the people around us increase our self-doubt, and who helps strengthen our faith in God. Whenever we can, we should look to distance ourselves from anyone who regularly speaks negatively into our lives. 1 Corinthians 15:33 says: ‘Do not be fooled. “Bad companions ruin good character”‘ (GNT). That’s an urgent statement.
Allowing our minds and hearts to be filled with ideas that go against God, no matter how much we intend to fight them, really can get to us. The best thing to do is to walk away. And when it’s impossible to separate ourselves completely from those bringing doubt and negativity to our lives, then the best solution is to cling to God.
We have to be active in this, because left unchallenged, words from others can take root quickly. If we can anchor ourselves in Scripture, and listen for God’s voice in prayer, we’ll find it so much easier to stand strong against the naysayers, and press on in Jesus’ footsteps.
2 Sam 22:31-24:25; John 5:16-30; Ps 5; Prov 24:8-9
Proverbs 2:6 NKJV
What are the people in your life telling you? Are they increasing your self-doubt or strengthening your faith? Just because people tell you something doesn’t make it so. In 1492 the people surrounding Columbus thought the earth was flat. The “experts” examined his travel plans and said his idea was impossible. But Columbus didn’t fall off the end of the earth as they predicted – instead, he discovered America!
Along the same lines, Thomas Edison tried to persuade Henry Ford to abandon his fledgling idea of a motorcar because he was convinced it would never work. He told Ford, “Come work for me and do something worthwhile.” Although Edison was a great inventor, it sounds like he was only positive about what he could do and rather pessimistic about what others could do. So the next time you get in your car to go somewhere, be glad Ford didn’t share Edison’s negative outlook about automobiles. Don’t let someone else’s limited thinking limit you.
Negativity is contagious; you have to pay attention if you don’t want to catch it! Even if you’re the only positive person in your family, be the one with an optimistic outlook in every situation. What we call “common knowledge” often is commonly wrong! “The Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
Have the people who are telling you “it can’t be done” factored God into the equation? If not, pay no attention. Instead of listening to people who increase your doubts, listen to the people to whom God has given wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.
Soul food: 2 Sam 22:31-24:25; John 5:16-30; Ps 5; Prov 24:8-9
2020-10-20
Kolossense 3:23 NLV
Jy sal weet dat jou werk jou ‘roeping’ is wanneer jy doen waarvoor jy lief is en lief is vir wat jy doen.
Die filantroop en nyweraar, Andrew Carnegie, het gesê: ‘Die gemiddelde persoon sit slegs 25 persent van hul energie en vaardigheid in hul werk. Die wêreld haal hulle hoed af vir diegene wat meer as 50 persent insit en staan op hulle koppe vir die enkele siele wat 100 persent aan hulle werk toewy.’
Thomas Edison was mal oor sy werk. In sy latere jare het hy Menlo Park, die wêreld se eerste fabriek wat niks anders as uitvindings gemaak het nie, gestig. Dit was ‘n voorloper tot die private navorsingslaboratoriums wat nou deur so baie groot maatskappye onderhou word. Op een tydstip was Edison besig om aan sewe-en-veertig dinge gelyk te werk. Ander uitvinders mag dalk ryker gewees het, maar geen uitvinder was meer entoesiasties of suksesvol nie.
Wanneer jy glo dat dit wat jy doen, ‘n verskil maak, sal jy anders voel oor wat jy doen. As jy glo dat jou werk waarde in God se oë het, sal jy nie meer oor die kritici omgee of van die rasieleiers afhanklik wees nie.
Paulus het gesê: ‘Al is my lewe kosbaar, ag ek dit van geen waarde as ek nie my lewenstaak en bediening wat ek van die Here Jesus gekry het, kan klaarmaak nie…’ (Handelinge 20:24 NLV).
Een van die laaste gebede wat Jesus gebid het, was: ‘Ek het U op aarde verheerlik deur die werk te voltooi wat U my gegee het om te doen’ (Johannes 17:4 NLV). As jy ernstig daaroor is om God te behaag, moet jy dit ook jou gebed maak.
Sielkos: 2 Sam 20:1-22:30; Joh 5:1-15; Ps 15; Spr 24:7
Colossians 3:23 NASB
You will know that your job is your “calling” when you do what you love, and love what you do.
Philanthropist and industrialist Andrew Carnegie said: “The average person puts only 25 percent of their energy and ability into their work. The world takes off its hat to those who put in more than 50 percent, and stands on its head for those few and far-between souls who devote 100 percent.”
Thomas Edison loved work. In his latter years he established Menlo Park, the world’s first factory for making nothing but inventions. It was a forerunner to the private research laboratories now maintained by so many large companies. At Menlo Park Edison promised to turn out “a minor invention every ten days, and a big thing every six months or so.” At one point he was working on forty-seven things at once. Other inventors may have been richer, but no inventor has ever been more enthusiastic or successful.
When you believe that what you do makes a difference, you have a different feeling about what you do. When you believe your job has worth in God’s eyes, you’re no longer vulnerable to the critics or dependent upon the cheerleaders.
Paul said, “I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me” (Acts 20:24 NIV). One of the last prayers Jesus prayed was “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do” (John 17:4 NIV). If you are serious about pleasing God, make that your prayer too.
Soul food: 2 Sam 20:1-22:30; John 5:1-15; Ps 15; Prov 24:7
