What's in an Attitude?

By Dr Jack Ender

I once heard it said: “Attitude gives you altitude!” How true. The right
attitude can curse or bless us; it can bring a positive outlook during
difficult times and can also bring a negative outlook during easy times. It
is a right attitude that keeps you employed, a right attitude that brings
happiness to a marriage, and a right attitude that provides joy to a family.
So what is the secret to a right attitude?

We often tell one another to correct our attitude. The problem is that we are not really a good judge of correct
attitude. This is generally because of our own bad attitudes. The discussion is like this: “What are you all in a
huff about?” response: “Don't tell me I'm in a huff, you’re the one who started this!” response: “Yeah, that's
because you always have bad attitudes!” response: “Look who's talking!” and so forth.

If each person's idea of a right attitude is different, then who could possibly be right. Is a wrong attitude ever
justifiable? Who is the judge of right or wrong attitudes, since all things are relative to each individual and each
culture? I think you see the dilemma here.

Good News
There is good news in that we can go to a book that defines good attitudes. More over, our own human
conscience will agree with the definition of good attitudes in this book. The problem is that few people go to this
book to look for the definition of good attitudes. Most often, they get definitions from a program they have
watched on TV or have read in a magazine, begging the question of who can possibly judge what is right or
wrong.

Though you may not have recently read this book, it is called the BIBLE. In it is
found the secrets to life, joy, and prosperity. Yes, to someone who just opened the
Bible, it seems to be filled with stories that are irrelevant, but finding a good version
of the Bible will help you easily understand the Bible. I recommend The
Contemporary English Version, that can readily be found on the web, or downloaded
to a smart phone.

Back to Attitude
The Bible is divided into two major parts, the old testament and the new testament. A testament is simply
instructions left to the heirs of a heritage. You have heard of “Last Will and Testament”. So the Bible is a
testament of things recorded by men that God spoke. In the New Testament is a book called, Philippians. It was a
letter written to that church, reminding them what was in the mind of God. Let's go there and see what it says.

To go to Philippians, go to the front of your Bible and look for an INDEX. It will tell you on which page is the
book of Philippians. Or if you have access to the web, searching for Philippians 2, CEV.

Philippians, chapter 2, verse 1 Christ encourages you, and his love comforts you. God’s Spirit unites you, and you are
concerned for others. 2 Now make me completely happy! Live in harmony by showing love for each other. Be united in what
you think, as if you were only one person . 3 Don’t be jealous or proud, but be humble and consider others more important
than yourselves. 4 Care about them as much as you care about yourselves 5 and think the same way that Christ Jesus
thought:[“think the same way” is originally interpreted as “have the same attitude” ]
6 Christ was truly God. But he did not try to remain[b] equal with God.
7 Instead he gave up everything[ c] and became a slave, when he became like one of us.
8 Christ was humble. He obeyed God and even died on a cross.
9 Then God gave Christ the highest place and honored his name above all others.
10 So at the name of Jesus everyone will bow down, those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth.
11 And to the glory of God the Father everyone will openly agree, “Jesus Christ is Lord!”

Lights in the World

12 My dear friends, you always obeyed when I was with you. Now that I am away, you should obey even more. So work with
fear and trembling to discover what it really means to be saved. 13 God is working in you to make you willing and able to
obey him.
14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing. 15 Then you will be the pure and innocent children of God. You live among
people who are crooked and evil, but you must not do anything that they can say is wrong. Try to shine as lights among the
people of this world, 16 as you hold firmly to[d] the message that gives life. Then on the day when Christ returns, I can take
pride in you. I can also know that my work and efforts were not useless.

Thinking About What You Have Read

Let's look at what we have read.

First, you are not alone in your efforts to change, to be transformed. Verse one says that Christ encourages you,
His love comforts you, and God's spirit unites you . You may have never experienced this kind of encouragement,
comfort, and unity with the Spirit of God, but you start by ASKING Christ to come into your heart. Yes, it is that
simple. Whisper, “Lord Jesus, I want to know the kind of encouragement you can bring into my life” Then ask,
“I want to experience the kind of comfort that comes from your love.” Finally, you may have never been united
to anything, but there is nothing as sweet as agreement.. being part of a team.... being connected for one purpose.
So go ahead, whisper again, asking Christ to join himself to you, to help you think the way he thinks, to have the
same attitude as Christ.

Second, we are commanded to “live in harmony by showing love to each other ”. This is an ACTION! Consider
how you can take action by your choice to show love, rather than anger; consider how you can make a choice to
live in harmony, rather than disagreement. Remember for a moment, when a disagreement arose between you
and someone else. What did you do to ACCELERATE and AGITATE... to enlarge the disagreement. What could
you have done to promote agreement and harmony... to extinguish the disagreement? Write down some “action
steps” that you could have taken. Finally, make a list of memorable disagreements you have had over a lifetime
and set that list in your lap. Place your hands on that list that is lying in your lap and ask God to forgive you for
the part you played in promoting disagreement. Determine in your heart that you are going to forgive and release
those who have hurt you, so that you no longer wish them ill, bad luck, or punishment for how they have hurt
you.

Third, “be united in what you think, as if you were one person” . The theme is “in Christ”. We should consider
what God thinks, and then adjust our thinking to God's desires and designs. So our unity comes from agreeing
with the thoughts of God expressed through his son, Christ Jesus. In the military, the department of defense
defines the uniform that soldiers will wear. The department of defense determines the training soldiers will
undertake, what time they will rise, what time they will go to bed and so forth. The outcome is that soldiers
begin to think in a united way, dress in a united way, work in a united way... they have the mind of the
Department of Defense.

Consider how you could enter the Lord's Army, how you could change your uniform, how you could conform to
God's rules and regulations. Do you know how God thinks? Could you make a list of things that you know
would please God? For example: 1.) Being kind to others would please God; 2.) Forgiving those who hurt me
would please God; 3.) Being thoughtful and courteous would please God. Continue on with the list and see how
many things you to put on your list.

Fourth, “Don't be jealous or proud, but be humble considering others more important than yourself.” Jealous is
related to envy. We all want our “fair share”, we want what we think belongs to us. You can only extinguish
jealousy and envy, when you give up your right to ownership or possession. Pride is closely akin to jealousy and
envy in that we too have to give up our right to be respected, honored, or noticed. Apostle Paul, the writer of
Philippians gives to us the key... ”consider others more important than yourself.” You extinguish jealousy and
pride upon the altar of humility, but putting others before yourself.

Listen to this passage found in the same Bible, but in the book of Romans, chapter 12, verse 10: 'Love one
another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.“ So consider, how you could practice
humility, how you could “OUTDO others” in showing humility and honor. Write down some things that you are
going to take action on, that you are going to do to show mutual affection .

Fifth, “Care about others as much as you care about yourself.” The very things you want lavished upon yourself,
you should be lavishing upon others. The Bible teaches in Galatians 6:7 that “What you sow, you will also reap”.
When you care about others, they will begin caring about you. When you speak a kind word, it motivates them
to return kind words. When you serve others, they will want to serve you. The kicker... to sowing is.... that
whatever you sow will be MULTIPLIED back to you. So we are often reaping what we have reflected back to
others.

Now, ask yourself, “What am I sowing with my attitude?” “Am I sowing care for others, putting others before
myself?” “Am I speaking kind words that build and encourage? Finally, make an “action plan”, write down
several things you are going to start sowing.

The Example of Christ

Christ Jesus, though he was equal to God, emptied himself and in humility took on the form of a man. Coming
as a servant, he submitted to death on a cross, so that in time, God gave him a name above every name. We too,
should have this same kind of attitude that was in Christ Jesus. (see verses 5-11)

Closing Thoughts
• Work at really being saved. (saved, meaning to be rescued from self-destructive attitudes that bring you
ruin.)
• Whatever you do, do it without grumbling and arguing. (Quickly identify when you move into
negativity.)
• Try to shine as a light in this world. (Let people see your good behavior and attitudes.)
• Hold on to this message that brings life. (Don't slide back into habits that bring death to you.)

Whether work, marriage, or church, you life will be enhanced by having “Good Attitudes”. By human reason,
the kind of attitudes you have is relative and solely dependent on present circumstance. But men, inspired by the
Spirit of God, have written down God's thoughts on the matter of attitude. Instead of conditional and relative
attitudes, the Bible that contains these thoughts of God, gives us absolutes on what kind of attitudes we should
have. These Godly attitudes are universally accepted as good and right. It is these kind of attitudes we want to
bring into our life, so we express the character of Christ.