2021-07-18
Philippians 1:3 NIV
The ability to bring out the best in others is important for two reasons. First, we usually see in people what we expect to see. Second, they generally rise to our level of expectation.
Dr. John Maxwell writes: “I’ve never known a positive person yet who didn’t love people and try to see the best in them. And one of the most effective ways to help you see the best in others is to do what I call putting a ’10’ on people’s heads. Here’s what I mean: We all have expectations of others, but we can choose whether those expectations are positive or negative. We can think that others are worthless or wonderful. When we make the decision to expect the best and actually look for the good instead of the bad, we’re seeing them as a ’10.'”
Try to imagine how the Philippian believers felt when Paul said, “I thank my God every time I remember you.” When you have faith in someone, you give them an incredible gift, maybe the best gift you can give another person. Give them money, and they may soon have spent it. Give them resources, and they may not use them to the greatest advantage. Give them help, and within a short period of time, chances are that they’ll find themselves back where they started. But demonstrate faith in them, and they become confident, invigorated, self-reliant, and motivated to obtain the skills they need to succeed on their own. Then later if you do share money, resources, and other kinds of help, they’re better equipped to use them to build a better future.
Soul food: 1 Sam 21:1-6; Hosea 6:4-6; Matt 12:1-14
Filippense 1:3 NLV
Die vermoë om die beste in ander uit te bring is vir twee redes belangrik. Eerstens, sien ons gewoonlik slegs in mense wat ons verwag om in hulle te sien. Tweedens, voldoen hulle gewoonlik aan ons verwagting.
Dr John Maxwell skryf: “Ek het nog nooit ‘n positiewe persoon geken wat nie lief was vir mense en die beste in hulle probeer sien het nie. Een van die effektiefste maniere om jou te help om die beste in ander te sien, is om, soos ek dit noem, ‘n ’10’ op mense se koppe te plaas. Wat ek daarmee bedoel is as volg: Ons het almal verwagtinge van ander mense, maar ons kan kies of daardie verwagtinge positief of negatief is. Ons kan dink dat ander waardeloos of wonderlik is. Wanneer ons die besluit maak om die beste te verwag en dan waarlik vir die goeie in plaas van die slegte uitkyk, sien ons hulle as ‘n ’10’.”
Dink hoe het die Christene in Filippi gevoel toe Paulus gesê het: ‘Elke keer as ek aan julle dink, dank ek God.’ Wanneer jy in iemand glo, gee jy hulle ‘n wonderbaarlike gawe, miskien selfs die beste geskenk wat jy aan ‘n ander persoon kan gee. Gee jy hulle geld, kan hulle dit in ‘n japtrap uitgee. Gee jy hulle hulpbronne, mag hulle dit dalk nie tot die beste voordeel gebruik nie. Verleen jy hulp aan hulle, mag hulle hulself gou weer op dieselfde plek bevind.
As jy egter geloof in hulle demonstreer, kry hulle selfvertroue en word hulle versterk, selfstandig en gemotiveerd om die vaardighede te bekom wat hulle nodig het om self sukses te behaal. As jy hulle dan later met geld, hulpbronne of ander tipes hulp bystaan, sal hulle beter toegerus wees om dit te gebruik om ‘n beter toekoms te bou.
Sielskos: 1 Sam 21:1-6; Hosea 6:4-6; Matt 12:1-14
2021-07-17
Deuteronomy 15:8 NKJV
God instructed the Israelites, “If there is among you a poor man…you shall open your hand wide to him” (vv. 7-8 NKJV). Giving is the loftiest level of living. Generous people focus their time and effort on what they can give to others, not what they can get from them. And the more you give, the better your attitude becomes.
Many people don’t understand this concept. They think the amount you possess determines the amount you should share. It’s not what you have that matters; it’s what you do with what you have. And that’s determined by your attitude. A famous saying puts it this way: We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
And serving others is something you can start doing today. Whether it means spending more time with your family, mentoring an employee who shows potential, helping people in your church or community – it’s about putting your own desires on hold to bless someone else. The Bible says, “Speak out for justice! Stand up for the poor and destitute!” (Proverbs 31:9 MSG).
The only way to maintain an attitude of generosity is to make a habit of giving of your time, attentiveness, money, and resources. Author Richard Foster says, “Just the very act of letting go of money, or some other treasure, does something within us. It destroys the demon [of] greed.” Think about what you’re already giving, what you’ve been asked to give, and what you would like to give. Your reasons for granting or denying a request for financial help may be valid, but are they godly? Think about how it feels when you give, and let that be your guide.
Soul food: Acts 14-15; Luke 8:1-15; Ps 133; Prov 16:2
Deuteronomium 15:8 NLV
God het vir die Israeliete opdrag gegee: ‘As daar in een van die dorpe in die land… ‘n arm Israeliet is… Maak jou hand vir hom oop…’ (verse 7-8 NLV). Om te gee, is die hoogste vlak van lewe. Vrygewige mense fokus hulle tyd en inspanning op wat hulle vir ander mense kan gee, nie op wat hulle van hulle kan kry nie. Hoe meer jy gee, hoe beter sal jou lewensuitkyk ook word.
Baie mense verstaan nie hierdie konsep nie. Hulle dink dat die hoeveelheid wat jy besit, die hoeveelheid wat jy moet deel, bepaal. Dis nie wat jy het wat saak maak nie; dis wat jy doen met wat jy het wat saak maak. Om ander te dien is iets wat jy vandag kan begin doen. Of dit nou beteken dat jy meer tyd met jou familie deurbring, ‘n werknemer wat potensiaal toon mentor, of mense in jou kerk of gemeenskap help – dit gaan daaroor om jou eie begeertes eenkant toe te skuif om sodoende iemand anders te seën. Die Bybel sê: ‘Sê jou sê sodat die regte dinge kan gebeur. Sorg jy vir die armes en die onderdruktes’ (Spreuke 31:9 DB).
Die enigste manier om ‘n houding van vrygewigheid te handhaaf, is om dit ‘n gewoonte te maak om jou tyd, aandag, geld en hulpbronne uit te deel. Dink oor dit wat jy reeds gee, wat jy gevra is om te gee, en wat jy graag sal wil gee. Jou redes om ‘n versoek vir finansiële hulp toe te ken of af te wys mag dalk geldig wees, maar is dit goddelik? Dink hoe dit voel wanneer jy gee en laat dit toe om jou te lei.
Sielskos: Hand 14-15; Luk 8:1-15; Ps 133; Spr 16:2
Philippians 4:6 TLB
If after praying, our worries are still gripping us and our emotions are still in turmoil, we should try to keep on praying. If our worries are overwhelming us, we might also need to seek help from a counsellor or a doctor, but alongside that, we can pray. When we discipline ourselves to pray persistently and often, we’ll discover the ability to remain calm and quiet. And as we wait before the Lord, we’ll begin to sense His presence and find relief from fear’s grip on our spirit.
We might be tempted to think our prayers were ineffective, or we somehow failed because the anxiety returned – perhaps as soon as we said ‘Amen’. But we shouldn’t feel guilty or feel we’ve failed – instead we should take the feelings of worry as a signal that we need more time with God to review all the details of our problem, tell Him how much it upsets us, and maybe even to admit that we’re afraid He won’t handle it quickly enough.
When we’re constantly worrying about something after telling God about it, we need to check whether we’ve actually kept hold of it rather than handing it completely over to Him. Here’s a prayer to repeat for those times if we’re not sure what to say: ‘Lord, this is Your problem to fix. You take control. If I’m meant to be involved in the solution, let me know what You want me to do. By leaving it with You, I’ll consider it solved.’ At that point we should leave the problem with God – our responsibility is now to wait for His guidance and to act if He prompts us to. He’ll direct us to the next step we should take.
Acts 14-15; Luke 8:1-15; Ps 133; Prov 16:2
