Word of the Week: Attitude by Ken Weliever, The Preacherman

https://thepreachersword.com/2013/03/18/word-of-the-week-attitude/#more-3634

Word of the Week: Attitude

 Sir Christopher Wren, the renowned English architect,  supervised the construction of the magnificent St Paul’s cathedral in London.   A journalist thought it would be interesting to interview some of the construction workers, so he chose three and asked them this question, “What are you doing?”

The first replied, “I’m cutting stone for 10 shillings a day.”

The next answered, “I’m putting in 10 hours a day on this job.”

But the third man, stood back, surveyed the progress, and said, “Me?  I’m helping Sir Christopher Wren construct one of London’s greatest cathedrals!”

The difference in the response of these three men can be summed up in one word: Attitude!

“Attitude“ is our Bible word of the week.

Attitude is the manner, disposition or feeling toward people, situations and  even things.  Attitude has to do with outlook.  Point of view. Temperament. Mental posture.

In life, and especially in the world of business or sports, we speak of a positive or negative attitude.  Norman Vincent Peale often wrote and lectured on “The power of a positive mental attitude.”   Indeed positive attitudes attract and build up.  Negative attitudes repel and destroy. Success, failure or mediocrity in any endeavor can often be traced to one’s attitude.

The importance of our attitudes cannot be overestimated in our spiritual relationships.  Our Christian walk must be guided by the right attitude.  It is possible to be correct in creed, but crooked in character.  Right in doctrine, but wrong in attitude.

What should be the Christian’s attitude?  Paul put it succinctly when he stated, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus” (Phil 2:5, NIV).

The essence Christ’s mind can be summed up in five attitudinal qualities learned from this passage (Phil 2:5-8).  They were at the core of His character.  The center of His being.  The heart of who He was.

1. Jesus’s attitude was submissive.  He said, “not my will, but your will be done.  He didn’t have a stubborn mind, but a surrendered mind.   He knew the Father’s purpose for his life and was subservient to it.  So must we.

2. Jesus’ attitude was selfless.  He was not a self-exalting person, but a self-abasing one.   The irony was that Jesus was the fullness of the Deity in bodily form, but he was not full of Himself.  You can’t be full of yourself and have the mind of Christ.

3. Jesus’ attitude was servile.  The life of the savior was one of service.  He said that He came not to be served, but to serve.  Saints seeking to acquire the mind of Christ, must imbibe this quality. Christ-followers must be servant minded.

4. Jesus’ attitude was sacrificial.  He was willing to pay the price, regardless of the cost.  His sacrifice was the ultimate. He calls on us to be a living sacrifice.

5. Jesus’ attitude was spiritual.  Everything in the text has to do with the focus on  the spirit, instead of the flesh; on the spiritual instead of the material; on the heavenly instead of the earthly.  You will never acquire the mind of Christ without a spiritual focus.

Spiritual success, like material, physical and financial success, depends on my attitude.  For Christians, Christ is the standard. He is our example.  His attitude will be the basis for all other qualities that will transform my life, mold my mind, and direct my steps.

If you haven’t already, begin this week to “Put off… the old man and…Be made new in the attitude of your minds” (Eph. 4:22-23).

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman