Above Yourselves

Above Yourselves:

Here's something to consider this Christmas season: the level of one’s maturity is readily identified in one’s attitude.

When we ask/expect our kids to handle a chore or job we are immediately aware of their level of maturity in the response. In our home we continually remind our children about the importance of attitude.  Our kids have chores they are responsible for and our expectation is twofold: 1) Do things well, and 2) Do things with a good attitude.  Attitude is actually an INTEGRAL part of doing things well, but – so that it doesn’t get lost in the ‘doing’ of things – we reiterate, underline, highlight, and reinforce it continually.

Chuck Swindoll, pastor and author, once wrote, “The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude...I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you...we are in charge of our attitudes.”

A healthy mature attitude is not blind ignorance, apathetic detachment, or faking an annoying countenance of perpetual bliss, but rather steadfastness regardless of the circumstances of life.

Horatio Spafford demonstrated steadfastness of faith in the wake of finding out all his children had drown and that his wife had “Survived alone,” which inspired him to write the lyrics to the song, It is Well With My Soul.

In Genesis 22:8 Abraham demonstrated steadfastness of faith when God asked him to sacrifice his son Isaac, saying, “I and the boy will go over there and worship – then we will come back to you” in Genesis 22:8.

In Job 1:20 Job demonstrated steadfastness of faith when facing the overwhelming loss of all his cattle, flocks, livelihood, and children “Job fell to the ground in worship.”

Through Psalm 13:5-6 we read about King David’s attitude of steadfastness in faith. Despite having to flee for his life into the Judean hillside from King Saul – and later from his own son Absalom – David’s attitude was to sing, “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing praise to the Lord praise, for he has been good to me.”

King Jesus demonstrated steadfastness of faith when in the moments just before His arrest, subsequent crucifixion, and eventual death; He prayed “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”

The missionary, chaplain, and pastor Oswald Chambers demonstrated steadfastness in living - and dying - by his words: “The attitude must be one of complete reliance on God… and I am going to watch and see how He unravels a thing.”

The sure sign of immaturity in children – in people – is that of a wavering attitude of entitlement. Entitlement causes us to continually seek “the upgrade,” the greener grasses, the shiny trinkets of temptation, the next ecstatic emotional high in life – rather than steadfastness in faith.

As a child of God – secured through the Person and work of Jesus – are you continually maturing in faith to the point of steadfastness come what may? Are you leading others in your church family on that same journey of maturation?  Are you serving the Body of Christ with a healthy mature attitude while doing the things that Jesus commanded (Matt 28:18-20)?

Consider the words of the Apostle Paul from Philippians 5:3-5

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.  In your relationships with one another, have the same attitude as Christ Jesus.”

Faith in God is always demonstrated through an attitude of steadfastness despite the circumstances of life. So what about you?

If you've already been redeemed by Christ and come into the family and flock of God, then maybe the greatest gift you can ask for -and receive- this Christmas season is that of a steadfast and enduring mindset/attitude of Christ: to truly consider others above yourself.

Christmas blessings,

-Kevin