2024-04-20
James 3:2 NLT
The Bible has a lot to say about the dangers of the tongue. James devotes an entire chapter to this subject: “If we could control our tongues, we…could also control ourselves in every other way.” Now there is an aspect of self-control to consider! The Greek sage Publius said, “I have often regretted my speech, but never my silence.” And novelist William Edward Norris wrote, “If you your lips would keep from slips, five things observe with care; to whom you speak, of whom you speak, and how, and when, and where.”
King David puts it this way: “I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle” (Psalm 39:1 NASB 1995). That’s what it takes – a muzzle! David is talking about making a conscious commitment to watch what you say, and if you want to accomplish this, here are three principles you need to live by:
(1) Think first. Before you speak, pause for ten seconds and mentally preview your words. Are they accurate or exaggerated? Kind or cutting? Needless or necessary? Grateful or complaining? What you don’t say today, you won’t have to explain tomorrow.
(2) Talk less. Your chances of getting into trouble increase exponentially when you talk too much. That’s why compulsive talkers often find it hard to keep friends. Conserve your verbal energy.
(3) Start today. Already you have read enough to help bring your tongue into submission. So put that muzzle on your mouth now – and watch how it enriches your life.
Soul food: Acts 8-9; Mark 3:28-35; Ps 130; Prov 10:24-26
Jakobus 3:2 NLV
Die Bybel sê baie oor die gevare van die tong. Jakobus wy ‘n hele hoofstuk aan hierdie onderwerp toe: ‘…Maar ‘n mens wat sy tong in toom kan hou, kan dit ook met sy hele liggaam regkry.’ Dit is ‘n aspek van selfbeheersing om nogal te oorweeg! Die Griekse wysgeer Publius het gesê: ‘Ek het al dikwels my woorde berou, maar nog nooit my stilte nie.’ Die skrywer William Edward Norris het geskryf: ‘As jy jou lippe van glipse wil bewaar, let vyf dinge versigtig op; met wie jy praat, van wie jy praat, hoe, wanneer en waar.’
Koning Dawid stel dit as volg: ‘Ek het gedink dat ek baie goed moet kyk hoe ek leef, want ek wil nie verkeerde dinge sê en so sonde doen nie. Voordat ek praat, sal ek eers mooi dink wat ek sê…’ (Psalm 39:2 DB). Dawid sê dat mens ‘n bewuste besluit moet maak om jou woorde te tel. As jy dit wil doen, is daar drie beginsels waarvolgens jy moet lewe:
1) Dink eerste. Voor jy praat, dink vir tien sekondes en oorweeg eers jou woorde. Is hulle akkuraat of oordrewe? Vriendelik of snydend? Nodig of onnodig? Dankbaar of klaend? Wat jy vandag nie sê nie, hoef jy nie môre oor verskoning te vra nie.
2) Praat minder. Jou kanse om in die moeilikheid te kom neem eksponensieel toe wanneer jy te veel praat. Dis hoekom kompulsiewe praters dit dikwels moeilik vind om vriende te behou. Bewaar jou verbale energie.
3) Begin vandag. Jy het reeds genoeg gelees om jou te help om jou tong in bedwang te hou. Snoer dus vandag jou mond – en kyk hoe dit jou lewe verryk.
Sielskos: Hand 8-9; Mark 3:28-35; Ps 130; Spr 10:24-26
2024-04-19
Matthew 6:33 NLT
When you read God’s Word, you discover how He feels about you. As a result, your memories begin to heal, your self-worth is restored, and you stop trading with a devalued self-image. When that happens, you no longer believe that “anybody’s company is preferable to my own.” In a survey of supposedly happy couples, over 50 percent said they wouldn’t marry the same person again. Why? Because the answer to loneliness isn’t people; it’s purpose!
The apostle John was a prisoner on the Isle of Patmos when God showed him the glories of heaven and he wrote the book of Revelation. Paul was alone in a Roman dungeon when he wrote half the New Testament. God did some of His best work when He was alone with no one to applaud Him, so he praised Himself, saying, “It [is] very good” (Genesis 1:31 KJV). Can you do that?
It’s nice when others speak well of you, but when you can speak well of yourself, it reflects your opinion of yourself – and that’s the one you live with every day. Three cheers for those whose departure taught us how to be alone and enjoy it! Somewhere beyond loneliness, there is a contentment born of necessity. When your options close in the natural realm, you find doors opening to you in the spiritual realm. So, work on deepening your relationship with God. As you do, you will find joy, and you will also develop qualities that make you attractive to the right people. It’s why Jesus said that when you “seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously… he will give you everything you need” – including self-worth.
Soul food: Acts 6-7; Mark 3:20-27; Ps 75; Prov 10:22-23
Matteus 6:33 NLV
Wanneer jy God se Woord lees, ontdek jy hoe Hy oor jou voel. Gevolglik begin jou herinneringe genees, jou selfwaarde word herstel en jy hou op om met ‘n minderwaardige selfbeeld handel te dryf. Wanneer dit gebeur, glo jy nie meer dat enigiemand anders se geselskap bo jou eie verkiesliker is nie. In ‘n opname van vermeende gelukkige paartjies, het meer as 50 persent gesê dat hulle nie weer met dieselfde persoon sal trou nie. Hoekom nie? Omdat die antwoord op eensaamheid nie mense is nie, maar doelgerigtheid!
Die apostel Johannes was ‘n gevangene op die eiland Patmos toe God vir hom die heerlikheid van die hemel gewys en hy die boek Openbaring geskryf het. Paulus was alleen in ‘n Romeinse kerker toe hy die helfte van die Nuwe Testament geskryf het. God het sommige van sy beste werk gedoen toe Hy alleen was met niemand wat Hom kon loof nie, dus het Hy Homself geprys en gesê: ‘…dit was goed in elke opsig…’ (Genesis 1:31 NLV). Kan jy dit doen?
Dis lekker wanneer ander mense mooi dinge van jou sê, maar wanneer jy mooi van jouself kan praat, reflekteer dit jou opinie van jouself – en dis die opinie waarmee jy elke dag moet saamleef. Iewers anderkant eensaamheid is daar ‘n tevredenheid wat uit nood gebore word. Werk dus daaraan om jou verhouding met God te verdiep. Wanneer jy dit doen, sal jy vreugde vind en ook kwaliteite wat jou vir die regte mense aantreklik maak, ontwikkel. Dis hoekom Jesus gesê het dat wanneer ons: ‘…die koningsheerskappy van God en dit wat voor Hom reg is, julle heel eerste prioriteit [maak]; dan sal God vir julle al hierdie ander dinge as ‘n bonus byvoeg’ – insluitend selfwaarde.
Sielskos: Hand 6-7; Mark 3:20-27; Ps 75; Spr 10:22-23
2024-04-18
1 Corinthians 12:18 NCV
A respected Bible teacher says: “Because my family’s so large, we draw names to see who we’ll buy presents for. One Christmas when I opened my present, I was disappointed… then I looked at my twin brother who got two nice gifts. Sensing my disappointment, my wife came over to me and said, ‘Don’t worry. When we get home, we’ll exchange it for something you like better.’ The same thing happens in the Body of Christ. We open the gifts God has given us and immediately run to someone else to see what he or she received…When we look at our gift… we’re unhappy… and immediately think… ‘I know… I’ll swap it for something I like better.’ That’s why there are so many people running around claiming to be an apostle or a prophet or a teacher… They’re gift-swapping.”
You don’t get to decide what gift God gives you. God “put all the parts… in the body as he wanted them.” Sometimes it takes years for you to recognize your gift and start operating in it. Instead of coveting another person’s gift, be thankful for your own and ask God to use it to bless as many people as possible.
And if you have questions about it, search the Scriptures. Paul says, “God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29 NIV); “God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well” (Romans 12:6 TLB); “Each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that (1 Corinthians 7:7 NIV); “The Spirit decides what to give each person” (1 Corinthians 12:11 NCV). So, use the gift God gave you.
Soul food: Acts 3:11-5:42; Mark 3:13-19; Ps 127; Prov 10:19-21
