2021-07-16
Spreuke 11:13 NLV
Verraad is erger as ‘n geskinder. ‘n Skinderbek mag nie noodwendig enige slegte gevoelens teenoor sy of haar slagoffer hê nie; maar ‘n verraaier openbaar willens en wetens inligting wat vertroulik aan hom of haar vertel is. Hulle pleeg ‘verhoudingsverraad’ deur die vertroue wat iemand in hulle geplaas het, te skend.
Judas was in die posisie om Jesus met baie min inspanning te verraai, omdat hy met Jesus se bewegings vertroud was. Die Bybel sê: ‘Judas, die een wat Hom sou uitlewer, het ook die plek geken omdat Jesus en sy dissipels dikwels daar bymekaargekom het’ (Johannes 18:2 NLV). Later het Judas se gedrag soveel selfveragting by homself gekweek, dat hy selfdood gepleeg het. Dade van verraad vreet aan jou selfbeeld en jou sin van waardigheid.
So, het jy al ooit ‘n vertrouensbreuk gepleeg? Indien dit die geval is, hoekom het jy dit gedoen? Wat was die beloning? Het jy voordeel daaruit getrek? Was jy jaloers of gegriefd op daardie stadium? Was daar onopgeloste konflik tussen jou en die ander persoon? Het jy berou oor dit wat jy gedoen het?
Aan die ander kant, het iemand al ooit jou vertroue geskend? Indien wel, was jy besig om te oes wat jy gesaai het? Watter waardevolle lesse het jy daaruit geleer? Het jy die oortreder in jou hart vergewe en wil jy nie meer vergelding hê nie? Indien nie, is jy steeds aan hulle gebonde en beheer hulle jou lewe. Laat dit gaan! Herinner jouself: ‘En ons weet dat God alles ten goede laat saamwerk vir hulle wat Hom liefhet…’ (Romeine 8:28 NLV).
Strewe daarna om ‘n betroubare persoon te word, waarop ander mense kan staatmaak om hulle geheime te beskerm. As jy geseënd is om self ‘n betroubare vriend te hê, dank God vir hom/haar!
Sielskos: Hand 12-13; Luk 7:36-50; Ps 123; Spr 16:1
Proverbs 11:13 NIV
Betrayal is worse than gossip. A gossip may not necessarily harbor ill will toward his or her victim; but a betrayer knowingly divulges information in a breach of confidence. They commit “relational treason” by violating the trust someone has placed in them.
Judas was in a position to betray Jesus with very little effort because he was familiar with His comings and goings. The Bible says, “Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples” (John 18:2 NIV). Judas used his inside knowledge of Jesus’ tendencies to hurt him. Then later his behavior engendered such self-loathing that he committed suicide. Acts of betrayal eat away at your self-esteem and sense of dignity.
So, have you ever breached a confidence? If so, why did you do it? What was the reward? Did you gain some inside advantage? What were you envious or resentful of at the time? Was there an unresolved conflict between you and the other person? Have you repented of what you did? Conversely, has someone betrayed your confidence? If so, were you reaping what you had sown? What valuable lesson did you learn from it? Have you freed the offender in your heart, and no longer desire retribution? If not, you’re still bound to them and they’re controlling your life. Drop it! Remind yourself that, “All things work together for good to those who love God” (Romans 8:28 NKJV).
Strive to become a trustworthy person others can depend on to guard their secrets. And if you’re blessed to have a trustworthy friend yourself, thank God for them!
Soul food: Acts 12-13; Luke 7:36-50; Ps 123; Prov 16:1
Proverbs 11:13 NIV
Betrayal is worse than gossip. Someone who gossips may not necessarily be wanting or trying to hurt the subject; but a betrayer knowingly shares information in a breach of confidence. They violate the trust someone has placed in them. Judas was in a position to betray Jesus with very little effort because he was familiar with Him, His schedule, and His habits. The Bible says, ‘Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples’ (John 18:2 NIV). Judas used his inside knowledge of Jesus’ tendencies to hurt Him.
If we’ve ever betrayed a confidence, it’s important that we bring our actions to God and confess to Him, even if it happened years ago. We should consider our motives: Why did we do it? What was the reward? Did we gain some advantage over the person we betrayed? Did we want to gain favour from those we shared the secret with? Were we envious or resentful of at the time? Was there an unresolved conflict that led us to do it? We should lay all the circumstances before God and seek forgiveness.
On the other hand, what if someone has betrayed our confidence? If so, we need to think: What valuable lesson did we learn from it? Have we freed the offender in our heart, and no longer want revenge? If not, we’re still bound to them and they’re controlling part of our mind. We need to share our feelings with God, and then leave the situation and the other person in His hands.
Acts 12-13; Luke 7:36-50; Ps 123; Prov 16:1
2021-07-15
1 Timoteus 6:17-18 NLV
Daar is min bestuurders wat taaier as Bob Thompson was. Vir veertig jaar lank het hy sy werkers gedruk om ses dae ‘n week, van April tot Desember, hard te werk om die werk klaar te kry voor die eerste sneeu val. Hulle lojaliteit, sweet en harde werk het gehelp om hom ‘n baie ryk man te maak. Thompson het dit onthou en guns aan hulle terug bewys. Toe hy sy maatskappy, Michigan se grootste teer- en plaveiselbesigheid verkoop het, het hy vir sy huidige en afgetrede werknemers $128 miljoen van die wins gegee.
Thompson het die Thompson-McCully maatskappy met $3,500 wat sy vrou, Ellen, met onderrig verdien het, begin. Die eerste vyf jaar van die besigheid was uitdagend. Thompson het nie eers ‘n salaris getrek nie. Hoekom het hy dan later so baie van sy fortuin weggegee? ‘Dit was die regte ding om te doen,’ het hy gesê. ‘Jy besef dat die mense rondom jou al die pyn en lyding saam met jou deurgemaak het. Ek wou hulle daarvoor terugbetaal.’ Toe die tjeks uitgedeel is, was Thompson nie teenwoordig nie. Hy het gesê: ‘Ek wou nie daar wees nie, want dit raak te emosioneel.’
Hierdie man het opgetree soos waarvan die apostel Paulus gepraat het: ‘Sê aan hulle wat ryk is in hierdie wêreld om… hulle geld [te] gebruik om goed te doen. Hulle moet ryk wees in goeie dade en moet ruim gee aan dié in nood; hulle moet altyd gereed wees om wat God aan hulle gegee het, met ander te deel.’
Om goed te doen moet nie net hier en daar gebeur nie. Dis ‘n voltydse werk. ‘n Persoon met goeie karakter vra hom of haar in elke situasie af: ‘Wat is die regte ding om te doen?’ Die antwoord is altyd: ‘Doen goed aan ander.’
Sielskos: Hand 10-11; Luk 7:24-35; Ps 118:19-29; Spr 15:33
2 Chronicles 26:4 NIV
When we’re children, we often look up to lots of people. It could be someone in our family, or maybe a teacher or someone like a youth leader. We want to be like them and we respect them. They set us an example to follow and show us right from wrong. They may even set us an example of how to live close to God and how to follow His ways.
Timothy’s faith was influenced by his mother and grandmother. Paul says: ‘I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also’ (2 Timothy 1:5 NIV). The example of strong faith from Lois and Eunice inspired the faith of Timothy, someone who spread the news of God to others. And back in the Old Testament, Uzziah followed the example set by Amaziah, his father. The Bible says: ‘He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father…had done.’
Even as we get older, we still need good role models in our lives. We need people who can encourage us in our faith. People who can mentor us. And we also need to be good role models to others. We can mentor people younger or less experienced than us. But we can also simply live in a Christ-like way to show others the right way to live. The Bible tells us to ‘let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts’ (Colossians 3:16 NIV). When we live according to this verse, we’ll be a great example to all we meet.
Acts 10-11; Luke 7:24-35; Ps 118:19-29; Prov 15:33
