2025-07-11
Matteus 5:41 NLV
Verbeel jouself die volgende: Jy is in ‘n restaurant met iemand wie se rekening R100 is en jy sien hoe hulle die fooitjie uitwerk. Hulle het R20 oor en weet dat ‘n 10 persent fooitjie as die absolute minimum gesien word. Hulle mors vyf minute om kleingeld vir daardie R20 te kry sodat hulle presies R10 as fooitjie kan los, eerder as om bietjie ekstra te gee. Wat sou gebeur het as hulle die volle R20 as fooitjie gelos het? Hulle mag dalk die kelner of kelnerin se dag gemaak het. R10 mag dalk nie soos baie klink nie, maar die boodskap wat daarmee gepaardgaan kan die wêreld vir iemand beteken, veral as hulle ‘n slegte dag het. Dit sê: ‘Dankie, jy het ‘n goeie werk gedoen, ek waardeer jou, jy is kosbaar.’ Miskien gaan die boodskap verlore – jou kelner raap net die fooitjie op sonder om dit te tel – maar God seën jou in elk geval omdat jy dit gedoen het.
‘…Wie suinig saai, sal karig oes; wie ruimhartig saai, sal volop oes’ (2 Korintiërs 9:6 NLV). Dink daaroor: Jy kan iemand anders gelukkig maak en jouself seën. Dit is net een klein voorbeeld van die verskeie maniere waarin die klein dingetjies wat ons doen, verrassend groot nagevolge kan hê. Klein dade van goedhartigheid gee die toon van jou dag aan. Om die ekstra myl te gaan – of dit nou ‘n ekstra fooitjie of ‘n onverwagte kompliment of geskenkie is – kos baie min en gee jou baie terug.
Hier is nog ‘n belangrike gedagte: Ons kan geloof hê wat berge versit, al die diep leerstellings van die Bybel verstaan en verduidelik en uitblink in persoonlike heiligheid, maar God se Woord sê dat ons niks, sonder liefde, is nie (sien 1 Korintiërs 13:2).
Sielskos: Hand 10-11; Matt 9:1-13; Ps 118:19-29; Spr 15:33
Matthew 5:41 NKJV
Try to picture this: You’re in a restaurant with someone whose meal costs $15.00, and you’re watching them struggle over the tip. They have $2.00 left over, and they know that a 10 percent tip is considered the very minimum. They waste five minutes getting change for that second dollar so they can leave a $1.50 tip rather than leave a little extra. What would have happened if they had left the full $2.00? They may have made the waiter’s or waitress’s day. Fifty cents may not seem like much, but the message that goes along with it can mean the world of difference to someone, especially if they’re having a rough day. It says, “Thanks, you did a good job, I appreciate you, you’re valuable.” Maybe the message gets lost – your server just sweeps up the tip without counting – but God blesses you for doing it anyway.
“Whoever sows generously will also reap generously” (2 Corinthians 9:6 NIV). Think about it: You can increase the happiness of others and bless yourself with mere pocket change. This is just one tiny example of the many ways in which the small things we can do have surprisingly big repercussions. Small acts of kindness set the tone for your day. Going the extra mile – whether it’s a slightly larger tip or an unexpected compliment or gift – costs very little and gets you a lot.
And here is an important thought: We can have mountain-moving faith, understand and explain all the deep doctrines of the Bible, and get top marks for personal holiness, yet God’s Word says that without love, we are “nothing” (See 1 Corinthians 13:2).
Soul food: Acts 10-11; Matt 9:1-13; Ps 118:19-29; Pro 15:33
2025-07-10
Filippense 2:4 NLV
As jy jouself in ‘n leierskapposisie bevind, moet jy bewus wees hoe jy op die gevoelens, gedagtes en opinies van diegene rondom jou, reageer. Jy moet sensitief wees daarvoor, want dit wat jy as leier sê sal dieper aanklank vind as dit wat ander mense sê. Selfs wanneer iemand ‘n idee voorstel wat jy voel geen verdienste het nie, moet jy die versoeking om dit dadelik van die hand te wys, weerstaan. ‘n Eenvoudige: ‘Dankie vir jou insette,’ eerder as ‘n: ‘Nee, dit sal nie werk nie,’ is nodig.
Wanneer jy afwysend teenoor iemand is, stuur dit die volgende boodskap: ‘Ek ignoreer jou en jou idee. Jou gevoelens en sienings maak nie saak nie. Jou belange is vir my onbelangrik.’ Sulke stellings, gesproke of ongesproke, benadeel ‘n persoon se gevoel van waarde en behoefte aan respek. Dit is veral van toepassing as die persoon glo dat hulle spesiale agting verdien. Die ou gesegde is waar: ‘Mense gee nie om hoeveel jy weet nie, totdat hulle weet hoeveel jy omgee.’
Wanneer jy ander afwysend behandel, sal hulle ‘n manier vind om hul irritasie ten toon te stel, wat jou soms duur te staan kan kom as jy jou visie wil bereik. Jy kan dit voorkom deur meer bewus te raak van hoe jy teenoor ander mense optree. Die enigste oplossing vir hierdie probleem is om buite jouself te tree, aandagtig na ander te luister en te poog om hul bekommernisse te verstaan en met respek te hanteer. As jy dit doen, sal jy groot voordele daaruit put. ‘Julle moenie net elkeen na sy eie belange omsien nie, maar ook na mekaar se belange.’
Sielskos: Hand 8-9; Matt 8:28-34; Ps 118:10-18; Spr 15:31-32
Philippians 2:4 NKJV
If you are in a position of leadership, try to be aware of how you respond to the feelings, thoughts, and opinions of those around you. What you say as a leader will resonate more deeply with people than what others say, so you must be sensitive to this. Even when someone offers an idea that you feel has no merit, resist the temptation to immediately dismiss it. A simple “Thank you for your input” is called for, not “No, that won’t work.”
When you’re dismissive toward someone, it sends this message: “I’m ignoring you and your idea. Your feelings and views don’t matter. Your concern is unimportant to me.” Spoken or unspoken, these statements hurt a person’s sense of value and need for respect. This is particularly true if the person thinks they have earned the right to special regard. The old saying is true: “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
When you’re dismissive toward others, they will find a way to display their irritation, and sometimes it’s in a way that can cost you dearly when it comes to fulfilling your vision. You can avoid this by becoming more aware of how you come across to others. The only solution to this problem is to step outside yourself, listen intently to others, and endeavour to understand and respectfully handle their concerns. You will gain great benefits if you do. “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”
Soul food: Acts 8-9; Matt 8:28-34; Ps 118:10-18; Pro 15:31-32
2025-07-09
John 8:12 NKJV
In his book Deep Thoughts, Jack Handey writes: “As the light changed from red to green to yellow and back to red again, I sat there thinking about life. Was it nothing more than a bunch of honking and yelling? Sometimes it seemed that way.”
Many of us are waiting for the green light we have already been given. Jesus said, “He who follows Me shall… have the light of life.” When do insight, illumination, and direction come? When you take the first steps of faith. We are not advocating a thoughtless or prayerless approach to decision-making. You need to know that God is calling you. But you can be so afraid of doing the wrong thing that you never do the right thing. It’s wise to think and rethink, but not overthink. Over analysis results in spiritual paralysis.
A pastor explains: “If you try to logically figure out the will of God, you’ll never take a step of faith. Why? Because the will of God is not logical. It’s theological.” The word “theos” means “God.” So, “theological” denotes adding God into the equation. The pastor continues: “That’s why it doesn’t always add up on our human calculators. The promptings of the Holy Spirit won’t always make sense to your logical left brain. In fact, God ideas often seem like bad ideas. But that is when you need to allow the Holy Spirit to override your intellect.”
The disciples Jesus called did two things. They worked miracles, and they made mistakes. Had they been unwilling to make a mistake they would never have experienced the joy of working a miracle. So, go when the light is green.
Soul food: Acts 6-7; Matt 8:18-27; Ps 118:1-9; Pro 15:27-30
