2020-11-24
Luke 12:37 NKJV
When dealing with self-focus, you may ask, “What about those Scriptures that specifically tell us to ‘watch’? Aren’t they all about keeping an eye on ourselves?” That’s a good question, so let’s take a look at some of those “watch” passages in Scripture.
In Mark 13:34-37 (NKJV) we read: “A man going to a far country…left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming – in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning – lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”
What Jesus was teaching here is the exact opposite of self-focus. The doorkeeper wasn’t to watch himself, but to watch for his returning master. Jesus expects us to forget ourselves, work conscientiously for His kingdom, and be watching and prepared for His return. He said, “Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself…have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them.”
Far from an obsessive self-introspection that leaves you exhausted, discouraged, and disappointed with yourself, Jesus wants you to be excited and involved in His work here on earth, to actively watch for the coming again of your Lord and King. “Look to Me, [not to yourself!] and be saved…For I am God, and there is no other” (Isaiah 45:22 NKJV). So focus more on God – and less on yourself.
Soul food: 2 Chr 19-21; John 13:1-17; Ps 95; Prov 27:17-19
2020-11-23
2 Corinthians 13:5 NIV
Self-focus isn’t necessarily bad if it helps our spiritual growth. 2 Corinthians 13:5 tells us: ‘Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves’ (NIV). We might ask ourselves questions like ‘Do I measure up to God’s standards? Have I truly repented? Do I pray enough? Is God pleased with me?’ The truth is, turning the focus on ourselves can leave us feeling discouraged and defeated. So what’s the right way to examine ourselves? How does God want us to do it? There are only two mentions of self-examination in Scripture, and neither teaches us to indulge in too much self-focus.
First, Paul challenged the Corinthians about tolerating sin in their church. A man was having an affair with his stepmother and no one seemed bothered by it. And because they had ‘not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they…indulged’ (2 Corinthians 12:21 NIV), Paul wrote, ‘Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith.’ This isn’t an invitation to self-focus, but a spiritual check-up to see if our faith is genuine and we’re living God’s way.
Second, Paul corrected the Corinthians’ behaviour during the Lord’s Supper. Because some were getting drunk on communion wine, he said, ‘Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup’ (1 Corinthians 11:28 NIV). Paul’s not suggesting we should become fixated on our flaws, but on the liberating truth that Jesus paid the price for all our sin – past, present, and future. The Bible says: ‘Let us look only to Jesus, the One who began our faith and who makes it perfect’ (Hebrews 12:2 NCV). We’ll find growth, joy, and victory when we abandon unhealthy self-focus and stay Christ-focused.
2 Chr 16-18; John 12:37-50; Ps 102:18-28; Prov 27:13-16
2 Korintiërs 13:5 NLV
Dis nie noodwendig sleg om op jouself te fokus nie, mits dit tot geestelike groei lei. Sommige mense neem egter verkeerdelik aan dat dit ‘n Bybelse mandaat is! Het God ons nie immers beveel om onsself te ondersoek nie? Met dit in gedagte begin ons wonder – ‘Is ek geestelik genoeg? Het ek waarlik berou oor my sondes? Bid ek genoeg? Is God tevrede met my?’ Die waarheid is dat wanneer jy op jouself fokus, dit jou mismoedig en oorwonne kan laat voel.
Kom ons kyk wat God regtig sê. Daar is net twee gevalle waar selfondersoek in die Bybel genoem word en nie een van die twee leer ons om op onsself te fokus nie.
Eerstens, het Paulus die Korintiërs aangespreek omdat hulle groot sonde in hulle kerk toegelaat het. ‘n Man het ‘n verhouding met sy stiefma gehad en niemand was daaroor ontsteld nie. Omdat hulle nie berou oor hulle onreinheid, seksuele vergrype en losbandigheid gehad het nie (sien 2 Korintiërs 12:21), het Paulus geskryf: ‘Ondersoek julleself of julle in ‘n egte geloofsverhouding met Christus staan…’ Dis nie ‘n uitnodiging om op jouself te fokus nie, maar ‘n geestelike ondersoek.
Tweedens, het Paulus die Korintiërs se gedrag gedurende die nagmaal gekorrigeer. Omdat sommige van hulle van die nagmaalwyn dronk geraak het, het hy gesê: ‘Dit is waarom julle julleself moet ondersoek voordat julle van die brood eet en uit die beker drink’ (1 Korintiërs 11:28 NLV). Paulus bedoel nie dat jy op jou foute moet fikseer nie, maar op die bevrydende waarheid dat Jesus die prys vir al jou sonde betaal het – in die verlede, die hede en die toekoms.
Groei, vreugde en oorwinning lê daarin om ‘n ongesonde fokus op jouself agter te laat en op Christus gefokus te bly!
Sielskos: 2 Kro 16-18; Joh 12:37-50; Ps 102:18-28; Spr 27:13-16
2 Corinthians 13:5 NIV
Self-focus isn’t necessarily bad if it leads to spiritual growth. However, some people mistakenly assume that it’s a biblical mandate! After all, didn’t God tell us to “examine ourselves”? So with that in mind we start to wonder – “Do I measure up spiritually? Have I truly repented? Do I pray enough? Is God pleased with me?” The truth is, focusing on yourself can keep you feeling discouraged and defeated. Let’s check and see what God actually says.
There are only two mentions of self-examination in Scripture, and neither teaches us to indulge in self-focus.
First, Paul challenged the Corinthians about tolerating gross sin in their church. A man was having an affair with his stepmother and no one seemed bothered by it. And because they had “not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they…indulged” (2 Corinthians 12:21 NIV), Paul wrote, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith.” This isn’t an invitation to self-focus, but a spiritual credential checkup. “See whether you are in the faith.”
Second, Paul corrected the Corinthians’ behavior during the Lord’s Supper. Because some were getting drunk on communion wine, he said, “Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup” (1 Corinthians 11:28 NIV). Paul’s not suggesting you become fixated on your flaws, but on the liberating truth that Jesus paid the price for all your sin – past, present, and future. The Bible says, “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:2 NIV).
Growth, joy, and victory lie in abandoning unhealthy self-focus and staying Christ-focused!
Soul food: 2 Chr 16-18; John 12:37-50; Ps 102:18-28; Prov 27:13-16
2020-11-22
Psalm 34:8 NCV
The psalmist said, ‘Examine and see how good the LORD is.’ Let’s think about what it means to be ‘good’. Among other things, it means to be virtuous, righteous, honourable, to live according to certain morals and standards, and to have integrity.
A good God can’t break His promise, abandon His children, or fail to love and bless them. Because of God’s goodness, we can be sure that in every circumstance, He’ll treat us in the best possible way. Because of God’s goodness, we can experience security, peace, confidence, and joy greater than any we’ve known before.
When life seems to be falling apart, it can be difficult to see God’s goodness or feel that things will get better. That’s when we must use the faith God has already given us, and make the choice to trust Him (see Romans 12:3). When a plant starts growing, it has to break through the hard seed encasing it, and then push its way through the soil to break through to the surface. Without undergoing these stages, when its world literally breaks apart, a tiny seedling could never grow into a strong, healthy plant. So when we’re facing trials, let’s embrace God’s will, because it’s ‘good and acceptable and perfect’ (Romans 12:2 ESV), even if it’s uncomfortable for a while, and work towards our breakthrough moment. Ultimately, we’ll ‘see how good the Lord is. Happy is the person who trusts in him’.
The things we believe about God are revealed in the way we live our lives, so let’s trust Him, love Him, and believe that He’s good all the time, and allow His goodness and love to shine through us every day.
Gen 24:1-51; 2 Cor 6:14-7:1
