2022-08-24
Psalm 28:7 NIV
Joy is like a muscle; the more you develop it, the stronger it becomes. Here are two exercises to help you develop inner joy:
(1) Try to show more gratitude. “Give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV). Note, it doesn’t say be thankful for all circumstances, but in them. Hans Seyle, the father of modern stress studies, says gratitude produces more emotional energy than any other attitude. So look for more ways to express gratitude. Send an email or make a phone call to someone to tell them how much they have meant in your life. And remember to express gratitude to God. The psalmist says, “With my song I praise him” (Psalm 28:7 NIV). If you’re not naturally a joyful person, start singing praises to God and watch your attitude change.
(2) Look for ways to give. “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35 NIV). Someone has jokingly said, “When it comes to giving, many people will stop at nothing.” What does the Bible reveal? “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7 NIV). Why? Because you are most like God when you give, and He doesn’t give grudgingly. Your giving actually determines how much you receive from God! The Bible says when you give Him the first tenth of your income, He will “throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it” (Malachi 3:10 NIV). You cannot outgive God. As the old farmer said, “I shovel it into God’s storehouse, and He shovels it into mine – but God has a bigger shovel.”
Soul food: Judg 9:34-11:40; Mark 7:14-23; Ps 119:113-120; Prov 20:25; Ecc 5:4-6
2022-08-23
Spreuke 10:2 NLV
Om seën op jou werk te kry, moet jy die volgende beoefen: Eerlikheid. Dis dwaas om te steel, selfs al word jy nooit betrap nie. ‘Goed wat onwettig verkry is, bring geen blywende voordeel nie…’ Jy mag dalk steel en daarmee wegkom, maar jy sal nie daarby baat vind nie. ‘Rykdom wat maklik kom, verdwyn net so maklik…’ (Spreuke 13:11 NLV). Nie net sal jy moeilikheid kry nie, jy sal ook moeilikheid oor diegene wat vir jou lief is en van jou afhanklik is, bring. “‘n Gierigaard bring ongeluk oor sy huis…” (Spreuke 15:27 NLV).
Dink daaroor: Jy kan jou werk verloor, jou reputasie skade aandoen, verneder word, voor kostes en wettige nagevolge te staan kom wat jou familie moet betaal en in skande opeindig, wat jou kinders negatief sal affekteer. Jou eggenoot verdien ‘n eerlike maat. Jou kinders verdien ‘n eerlike rolmodel.
Die radioverslaggewer Paul Harvey het gesê dat 40 persent van Amerikaners erken dat hulle al by die werk gesteel het en dat 25 persent van hulle geregverdig gevoel het om dit te doen. Hulle het dit as volg gerasionaliseer: ‘Almal doen dit, hoekom dan nie ek nie… Die baas kan dit bekostig, hy sal dit nie mis nie… Dis net klein goedjies, dit sal nie ‘n verskil maak nie… Die maatskappy skuld my en ek neem net terug wat myne is… Ek verdien dit, ek werk hard en het nog nooit erkenning daarvoor gekry nie.’
Wat sê God daaroor? ‘Goddeloses word skynbaar gou ryk, maar dit hou nie…’ (Spreuke 11:18 NLV). Wanneer jy jou werkgewer verkul, sê die Bybel dat jy ‘goddeloos’ is. Van alle mense behoort werkgewers en kliënte in staat te wees om ‘n volgeling van Christus te vertrou om eerlik te wees, hul lone te verdien en kwaliteit diens te lewer.
Sielskos: Rig 7:1-9:33; Mark 7:1-13; Ps 119:105-112; Spr 18:10-12
Proverbs 10:2 NAS 1995
In order to be blessed on the job, you must practice this: honesty. It’s unwise to steal, even if you’re never caught. “Ill-gotten gains do not profit.” You may steal and get away with it, but you won’t benefit by it. “Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles” (Proverbs 13:11 NAS1995). You can’t do the wrong thing and finish up with the right result. Not only will you have trouble, you will bring trouble on those who love you and depend on you. “He who profits illicitly troubles his own house” (Proverbs 15:27 NAS). Think about it: You could lose your job, damage your reputation, be humiliated, face costs and legal consequences your whole family pays for, and end up in shame, all which will negatively affect your children. Your spouse deserves an honest partner. Your children deserve an honest role model, confident that the path you walk is safe for them to follow.
Radio commentator Paul Harvey stated that 40 percent of American workers admitted to stealing on the job, and 25 percent of them felt justified in doing so. They rationalised it by saying: “Everybody’s doing it, why shouldn’t I… The boss can afford it, he won’t miss it… It’s only small stuff, it won’t make any difference… The company owes me, and I’m just taking what’s mine… I deserve it, I’ve worked hard and never been acknowledged.”
What does God have to say about this? “The wicked earns deceptive wages” (Proverbs 11:18 NAS1995). When you deceive your employer, the Bible says you are “wicked.” Of all people, employers and customers should be able to trust a follower of Christ to be honest, earn their wages, and provide quality service.
Soul food: Judg 7:1-9:33; Mark 7:1-13; Ps 119:105-112; Prov 18:10-12
2022-08-22
Romeine 12:10 NLV
Hier is nog ‘n belangrike sleutel om seën in jou werk te ontvang: Bedagsaamheid. Dis van toepassing, of jy nou die president van die maatskappy of die skoonmaker is. Die naamplaatjie op jou deur mag dalk respek afdwing, maar jy moet dit elke dag deur jou werksetiek en jou houding verdien.
In die Ou Testament het die meeste mense ‘n bestaan gemaak deur te boer of vee aan te hou, dus het Salomo die volgende raad aangebied: ‘Jy moet weet hoe dit met jou kleinvee gaan, jy moet omsien na jou veetroppe’ (Spreuke 27:23 NLV). Goeie leiers maak dit hul prioriteit om die behoeftes, sterkpunte, swakpunte, potensiaal en motiveringsvlakke van diegene wat onder hulle werk, te weet. Gevolglik neem werknemers minder siekverlof, die moraal verbeter en kwaliteit en produksie skiet die hoogte in. Glo dit of nie, ‘n salarisverhoging is nie altyd die beste motiveerder nie. Soms is jou bedagsaamheid, begrip en belangstelling in ‘n werknemer ‘n kragtiger motiveerder. Om mense af te kraak of hulle as vanselfsprekend te neem, waarborg net wrokkigheid.
As jy regtig vir mense omgee, probeer jy om die beste in hulle na vore te bring. As jy ‘n werknemer is, belowe God: ‘…Wie omsien na die belange van sy werkgewer, sal voordeel daaruit trek’ (Spreuke 27:18 NLV). As jy aanhou om die mense bo jou te kritiseer, sal die mense rondom jou jou begin wantrou. Hoekom? Omdat hulle weet dat jy op een of ander stadium dieselfde aan hulle gaan doen! Die Bybel sê dat jy veronderstel is om goeie dinge van die mense in gesagposisies bokant jou, te sê (sien Titus 3:1-2). As jy dit nie kan doen nie, sê niks en begin na ‘n ander werk soek. Dis hoe om seën op jou werk te kry.
Sielskos: Rig 4-6; Mark 6:45-56; Ps 119:97-104; Spr 18:9
Romans 12:10 KJV
Here is another important key to being blessed on the job: thoughtfulness. That’s true whether you’re the company president or the night-shift janitor. The nameplate on your office door may say that you deserve respect, but you have to earn it every day through your work ethic and your attitude.
In the Old Testament, most people earned their living by farming and raising cattle, so Solomon offers this advice: “Know well the condition of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds” (Proverbs 27:23 NAS). Good leaders make it their business to know the needs, strengths, weaknesses, potential, and motivational levels of those who work with them. As a result, employee sick time is reduced, morale improved, and quality and production soar. Believe it or not, a pay increase isn’t always the best motivator. Sometimes your thoughtfulness, understanding, and interest in an employee is a more powerful motivator. Putting people down or taking them for granted just guarantees resentment. When you truly care about people, you try to bring out the best in them.
And if you’re an employee, God promises, “Whoever protects their master will be honored” (v. 18 NIV). If you keep criticizing those above you, those around you will begin to distrust you. Why? Because they know that at some point you will do the same to them! As long as you resent your position as a follower, you will never become qualified to be a leader. The Bible says you’re supposed to speak well of those in authority over you (See Titus 3:1-2). And if you can’t, say nothing and look for another job: That’s how to be blessed on the job.
Soul food: Judg 4-6; Mark 6:45-56; Ps 119:97-104; Prov 18:9
