2025-08-20
1 Korintiërs 12:31 AFR83
Die waarde van enigiets word deur sy funksionaliteit bepaal. Watter probleem los dit op? Aan watter behoefte voldoen dit? Sand is ‘n goeie voorbeeld. Op die strand is sand gratis. As jy egter ‘n speelgrond wil bou, moet daardie selfde sand in sakke gepak en vervoer word, dus kos dit meer en daarom styg die waarde daarvan. Nou kos dit wat eens gratis op die strand was, R100 per sak. Sodra dieselfde sand op ‘n stuk papier vasgeplak is, wat dit skuurpapier maak, neem die waarde daarvan weer toe. Nou is dit omtrent R50 vir ‘n stuk skuurpapier. Die waarde het toegeneem, omdat die doel daarvan verander het.
‘n Skrywer verduidelik dit verder as volg: ‘Sand bestaan uit silikondioksied. Wanneer sand verhit en verwerk word, word dit ‘n ingewikkelde deel van ‘n rekenaarskyfie wat R10 000 werd is. Wat dus eens gratis op die strand was, het nou waarde omdat dit in ‘n sak is, omdat dit op ‘n stuk papier vasgeplak is, of omdat dit deel van ‘n rekenaarskyfie wat jy skaars kan bekostig, is. Die sand is dieselfde, maar omdat dit nou ‘n groter doel het, is die waarde daarvan baie groter.’
Nadat Paulus baie oor die verskillende werke wat gedoen moes word en gawes wat in die kerk uitgeoefen moes word geskryf het, het hy gesê: ‘Lê julle toe op die beste genadegawes.’ Hoekom? Sodat die goeie wat jy doen die beste en voordeligste vir almal sal wees. Paulus skryf aan die gelowiges in Rome: ‘Want ek begeer om julle te sien, sodat ek die een of ander geestelike gawe met julle kan deel om julle te versterk’ (Romeine 1:11 AFR20). Moenie met minder tevrede wees nie; vra God vir meer – jy sal nie teleurgestel word nie.
Sielskos: Klaag 3:40-5:22; Matt 20:1-16; Ps 119:129-136; Spr 18:21
1 Corinthians 12:31 NKJV
The value of anything is determined by its function. What problem does it solve? What need does it meet? Sand is a good example. At the beach, sand is free. But if you want to build a playground, that same sand has to be bagged and transported, so it costs more; hence its value goes up. Now what was once free on the beach costs twenty-five dollars a bag. Once this same sand is glued to a piece of paper, making it sandpaper, its value increases again. Now it’s about five dollars for a sheet. The value has gone up with an alteration in its purpose.
An author further explains this: “Now, sand is silicon dioxide. When sand is taken, heated, and processed, it becomes an intricate part of a computer chip that is now worth five hundred dollars. So what was once free on the beach now has value because it is in a bag, because it is glued to a piece of paper, or because it is in a computer chip that you can hardly afford. The sand is the same, but it has found increased value in a greater purpose.”
After writing at length about the various jobs to be done and gifts to be exercised in the church, Paul writes, “Earnestly desire the best gifts.” Why? So you can bring the most benefit and do the greatest good. Paul writes to the believers in Rome, “I long to visit you so I can bring you some spiritual gift that will help you grow strong in the Lord” (Romans 1:11 NLT). Don’t settle for less; seek God for more – you won’t be disappointed.
Soul food: Lam 3:40-5:22; Matt 20:1-16; Ps 119:129-136; Pro 18:21
2025-08-19
1 Peter 3:8 NKJV
Put yourself in the other person’s shoes and try to see things from their point of view. That’s one of the great keys to working with clients, pleasing customers, sustaining a marriage, raising children, pastoring people, helping those who are less fortunate, etc. Live by this Scripture: “All of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tender-hearted, be courteous.” Try to look beyond yourself, your own pursuits, and your own world.
When you decide to reflect upon an issue from every possible angle, (a) look at it in light of another person’s history, (b) find out the interests and concerns of others, and (c) lay aside your own plan and try to see what others see. That’s a powerful thing because it means you are truly connecting with them.
If you join in any kind of group or team activity, you know how vital it is that each person sees the whole picture and not just their own part. Anytime a person doesn’t recognize how their work fits in with that of their teammates, then the whole team suffers. The better a team member grasps the big picture, the greater their potential to work with the team.
Getting along with people and working with them requires effort: getting to know their needs, their goals, their hurts, and their struggles. That’s what Jesus does with us. The Bible says that He can “sympathize with our weaknesses” (Hebrews 4:15 NKJV). To follow in His footsteps, you must endeavour to do that with others.
Soul food: Lam 1:1-3:39; Matt 19:15-30; Ps 119:121-128; Pro 18:13-20
1 Petrus 3:8 NLV
Plaas jouself in die ander persoon se skoene en probeer dinge uit hulle perspektief te sien. Dit is een van die groot geheime om met kliënte te werk, ‘n huwelik te onderhou, kinders groot te maak, die evangelie met mense te deel, om mense te help wat minder bevoorreg is, ens. Lewe volgens die volgende Skrifgedeelte: ‘…Wees almal eensgesind, simpatiek, lief vir mekaar, goedhartig en nederig.’ Probeer om verder as jouself, jou belange en jou eie wêreld te kyk.
Wanneer jy besluit om vanuit elke moontlike hoek oor ‘n saak te besin: (a) kyk daarna in die lig van die ander persoon se verlede, (b) vind uit wat die ander persoon se belangstellings en bekommernisse is, en (c) lê jou eie plan opsy en probeer om te sien wat die ander persoon sien. Dit is ‘n kragtige benadering, want dit beteken dat jy werklik met hulle kontak probeer maak.
As jy by enige groep- of spanaktiwiteit aansluit, weet jy hoe noodsaaklik dit is dat elke persoon die geheelbeeld en nie net sy eie deel sien nie. Wanneer ‘n persoon nie besef dat sy optrede met die van die span moet ooreenstem nie, ly die hele span. Hoe beter ‘n spanlid die geheelbeeld begryp, hoe groter is hul potensiaal om met die span saam te werk.
Om met mense oor die weg te kom en saam met hulle te werk, verg inspanning: om hul behoeftes, hul doelwitte, hul seerkry en hul stryd te leer verstaan. Dit is wat Jesus met ons doen. Die Bybel sê dat Hy ‘…ten volle met ons in ons swakhede saamvoel…’ (Hebreërs 4:15 NLV). Om in sy voetspore te volg, moet jy poog om dieselfde met ander mense te doen.
Sielskos: Klaag 1:1-3:39; Matt 19:15-30; Ps 119:121-128; Spr 18:13-20
2025-08-18
Exodus 4:12 NLT
You don’t have to be a great orator; you just have to deliver the message. You don’t have to emulate any other speaker; you just have to decide to be the best “you” possible. So:
(1) Forget about messing up. The chances are that you will know more about your topic than 90 percent of the audience. If you stumble, so what? It signals to the audience that you’re human – just as they are. People often connect better with your vulnerability than your strength. Besides, they’re rooting for you, and they want you to succeed.
(2) Focus on imparting value to the audience rather than trying to impress them. The only question that matters is, what did the audience take away from it? John Ford, an American film director, put it this way: “You can speak well if your tongue can deliver the message of your heart.”
(3) Practice! Practice! Practice! By first sharing your message with the person in the mirror, you will get to see and hear what others do, and you can add enhancements and make corrections accordingly.
(4) When it comes to sharing God’s Word, prepare your message as though everything depends on you, and present it as though everything depends on God – because it does! Paul knew he was not a great orator, yet his words are still changing lives two thousand years later: “My speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:4-5 NKJV).
Soul food: Gal 4-6; Matt 19:1-14; Ps 119:113-120; Pro 18:10-12
