2022-03-08
Jeremia 44:16 NLV
Misbruik die gesaghebbendes soms hulle posisie en bewys dat hulle onwaardig daarvoor is? Ja, maar dit beteken nie dat jy kan rebelleer nie. Die Bybel sê dat Jesus Hom in sy jeug aan die gesag van sy ouers onderwerp het (sien Lukas 2:51). Selfs toe sy bediening deur demonstrasies van bonatuurlike krag gekenmerk is, het Hy steeds die mense geleer om aan die Romeinse regering onderdanig te wees. ‘…Gee dan aan die keiser wat die keiser s’n is en aan God wat God s’n is’ (Lukas 20:25 NLV).
Onderwerping aan gesag is nie opsioneel vir ‘n volgeling van Jesus nie. Of jy nou vir ‘n bevordering oorgesien is, ‘n onbekwame baas het, of voel dat jy onregverdig behandel is, dis nog steeds God se wil dat jy gesag sal respekteer en jouself daaraan sal onderwerp. Wanneer jy sy wil gehoorsaam, werk Hy namens jou.
Soos jy jou neiging om uitdagend te wees oorweeg, moet jy probeer om die oorsaak daarvan te bepaal, wat die volgende mag insluit: 1) ‘n Angswekkende geskiedenis van lyding of mishandeling. 2) Disrespek vir ‘n onbekwame meerdere. 3) Trots omdat jou vaardighede nie erken of beloon word nie. 4) Onregverdige gedrag van diegene in outoriteit. 5) ‘n Taktiek van jou kant af om die eerlikheid, sorg of besorgdheid van gesagsfigure in jou lewe te toets.
Die Bybel sê egter: ‘Dit impliseer dat hulle wat weier om die owerheid te gehoorsaam, hulle teen die instelling van God verset. Dié wat dít doen, bring ‘n oordeel oor hulleself’ (Romeine 13:2 NLV). Bid dus: Here, ek bely dat ek ‘n rebelse houding het. Herinner my asseblief dat alle gesag van U af kom en dat wanneer ek dit teenstaan, ek U teenstaan. Bemagtig my om myself te onderwerp. In Jesus se Naam bid ek dit. Amen.’
Sielskos: Eks 28-29; Luk 14:15-24; Ps 106:1-23; Spr 7:1-2
Jeremiah 44:16 NKJV
Do those in authority sometimes abuse it and prove themselves unworthy of it? Yes, but that doesn’t let you off the hook. The Bible says that in his youth, Jesus submitted to the authority of His parents (See Luke 2:51). And even though His ministry was marked by demonstrations of supernatural power, He still taught submission to the governing authorities in Rome. “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Luke 20:25 NKJV).
Submission to authority is not optional for a follower of Jesus. Whether you are passed over for a promotion, assigned an incompetent boss, or feel you have been treated unfairly, respecting and submitting to authority is still God’s will for you. And when you obey His will, He works on your behalf.
As you consider your tendency to be defiant, try to understand the root cause, which may include these: (1) A distressful history of suffering or mistreatment. (2) Disrespect for an inept superior. (3) Pride because your skills have not been recognized and rewarded. (4) Unfair behavior from those in authority. (5) A tactic on your part to test the honesty, care, or concern of authority figures in your life.
Bottom line: “Anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished” (Romans 13:2 NLT). So pray: “Father, I repent of having a rebellious attitude. Remind me that all authority is from you, and when I resist it, I am resisting you. Empower me to submit. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.”
Soul food: Exo 28-29; Luke 14:15-24; Ps 106:1-23; Pro 7:1-2
2022-03-07
2 Corinthians 12:15 NLT
Helping people brings great fulfilment. When we spend our day serving others, we can draw joy from the fact that we’re demonstrating God’s love. And even if we’ve so far spent a lot of our lives being selfish and forgetting others, it’s not too late to have a change of heart. Even Charles Dickens’ Scrooge discovered you can turn your life around and make a difference for others.
That’s what Alfred Nobel did. He was shocked when he saw his obituary in a newspaper. His brother had died, but the editor mistakenly named Alfred and printed an uncomplimentary statement about his life because the explosives his company produced and profited from had killed many people. So Nobel vowed to spend the rest of his life promoting peace and acknowledging contributions to humanity. That’s how the Nobel Prizes came into being!
When we get outside of oursleves and make a contribution to others, we really begin to live. Unselfishness is its own reward; it’s not dependent on the response of others. This is the principle that guided the apostle Paul: ‘I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me’ (v.15 NLT).
Of all the qualities we can wish for and pursue, unselfishness seems to make the biggest difference towards cultivating other virtues. It goes against human nature, so being unselfish and servant-hearted can be a struggle at first. But if we can learn to think unselfishly and become givers, it becomes easier to develop other virtues, such as gratitude, love, respect, patience, and discipline.
Exo 25-27; Luke 14:1-14; Ps 136:13-26; Pro 6:32-35
Hebreërs 13:17 ABA
Totdat jy leer om jouself aan gesag te onderwerp, sal jy nooit gekwalifiseer wees om dit uit te oefen nie. Hoekom? 1) Omdat jy geen geloofwaardigheid sal hê nie. 2) Omdat jy nie regtig sal verstaan wat dit beteken om ‘n volgeling te wees nie. ‘n Opstandige houding sal jou ‘n eenrigting kaartjie na ‘n lewe van moeilikheid en mislukking koop.
Die Bybel sê die volgende: 1) Kinders moet geleer word om hulle aan die gesag van hulle ouers te onderwerp. “Kinders, omdat julle in die Here glo, moet julle aan julle ouers gehoorsaam wees… ‘Eer jou vader en jou moeder’ is die eerste van die Tien Gebooie waaraan ‘n belofte verbind is: ‘Sodat dit met jou goed mag gaan en jy lank op die aarde mag lewe'” (Efesiërs 6:1-3 NLV).
2) Vrouens moet hulself aan die leierskap van hulle mans onderwerp. (En mans moet bewys dat hulle waardig is vir daardie rol en verantwoordelikheid daarvoor neem). ‘Getroude vroue, julle moet aan julle mans onderdanig wees. Doen dit soos vir die Here’ (Efesiërs 5:22 NLV).
3) Lidmate van die kerk moet hulle aan die leierskap van hulle pastoor onderwerp. ‘Julle moet luister na julle leiers en julle moet doen wat hulle vir julle sê, want hulle hou aan om julle op te pas, hulle sal eendag vir God moet sê hoe dit met julle gaan…’
4) Landsburgers moet hulle aan die gesag van hulle regering onderwerp. ‘Julle moet die regering gehoorsaam, want God het dit daar geplaas… Dit impliseer dat hulle wat weier om die owerheid te gehoorsaam, hulle teen die instelling van God verset…’ (Romeine 13:1-2 NLV). ‘Eerstens spoor ek jou aan om vir alle mense te bid… Bid só vir konings en alle ander in gesagsposisies… So is dit goed en aanneemlik vir God, ons Verlosser’ (1 Timoteus 2:1-3 NLV).
Sielskos: Eks 25-27; Luk 14:1-14; Ps 136:13-26; Spr 6:32-35
Hebrews 13:17 NKJV
Until you learn to submit to authority, you will never be qualified to exercise it. Why? (1) Because you will have no credibility. (2) Because you won’t really understand what it means to be a follower. Today the entertainment industry glamorizes rebels and turns them into heroes. But that’s not how it works in everyday life. An insubordinate attitude will buy you a one-way ticket to a life of trouble and failure.
The Bible says this: (1) Children must be taught to submit to the authority of their parents. “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother,’ which is the first commandment with promise: ‘that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth'” (Ephesians 6:1-3 NKJV).
(2) Wives are called to submit to the leadership of their husbands. (And husbands must prove worthy of that role and take responsibility for it). “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:22 NKJV).
(3) Church members are called to submit to the leadership of their pastor. “Obey those who have the rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account.”
(4) Citizens are called to submit to their government. “The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted” (Romans 13:1-2 NIV). “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people – for kings and all those in authority… This is good, and pleases our Savior” (1 Timothy 2:1-3 NIV).
Soul food: Exo 25-27; Luke 14:1-14; Ps 136:13-26; Pro 6:32-35
