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Attitudes Proverbs 23.7 Introduction:
Attitudes – we all have one. Different people react differently to similar
situations. Some can face the death of a loved one or their own with grace and
peace while others so into depression. Some can accept things and see a silver
lining while others feel resentment. Our attitude determines our perception and
our perception affects everything else. I)
Two Basic Attitudes A)
Positive and negative 1.
Positive we would list, faith, hope, love, joy, happiness, contentment, etc. 2.
Negative we would list, worry, fear, hatred, dread, anxiety, etc. 3.
Which do you have? B)
Christians are to be positive. 1.
Having a positive attitude reflects upon our relationship and trust in God. 2.
Having a negative attitude reflects on our lack of relationship with and
distrust of God. C)
Keep in mind God’s law deals with negative things but in a positive way. 1.
The 10 Commandments were both positive and negative.
a. Not to murder (negative means we understand the sacredness of
life [positive])
b. Not to lie means we value the truth, etc. 2.
In dealing with sin Paul points out the sorrow of having to address such an
issue but also the joy of repentance. II)
Positive Must Replace the Negative A)
Faith must replace doubt 1.
Our worrying shows we are human and dealing with problems but it also shows a
lack of faith in God and His word, Matthew
6.28 - 30
a. This does not mean we are to be reckless
b. This does mean we realize God is watching us our priorities are to
be right. 2.
God cares about us, Romans 8.28 3.
For faith to replace doubt we must know God’s word (Romans
10.17), trust God’s word (Titus 1.2)
and accept God’s will (Luke 22.42).
B)
Bible love must replace hatred and anger 1.
It is easy to harbor grudges, feel resentment toward others, and have self pity.
2.
Bible love means we realize we are not the center of the universe, Romans 13.10 3.
Bible love means we care about God first, others second, and ourselves third, 1
John 4.21 4.
Bible love means we show that love through action, Hebrews
13.1 C)
Trust replaces suspicion 1.
We generally find in others what we want to find in them. Matthew 7.7
a. Prejudice is the result of suspicion; we pre-judge some body and then
find evidence to prove we are right.
b. Fortunately God does not do that with us, Romans
2.11 2.
Christians are good people.
a. Yet we can criticize others too much; pick at others and find faults
where here are none.
b. Our children hear this and develop their attitudes. D)
Optimism replaces pessimism. (Hope replaces cynicism) 1.
Success in life depends on what you can do, Matthew
25.25
a. Thomas Edison - I
have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't
work.
b. Michael Jordan - I
have missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I
have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take
the game winning shot... and missed.
And I have failed over and over and over
again in my life. And that is why I succeed. 2.
Pessimism almost certainly means you are going to fail.
a. Children of
b. Caleb, Numbers 14.8-9 3.
Optimism lies in God, Judges 7.3
a. God weeded out the pessimist 4.
See David’s attitude in battling Goliath, 1
Samuel 17.26,37 E)
Enthusiasm defeats apathy 1.
Enthos – in God, or full of God. 2.
We will triumph, Ephesians 3.20 3.
We have to care, Romans 8.31
a. Said of Joseph in Genesis 41.38
b. Said of Bezalel in building the tabernacle, Exodus
31.1,2
c. Said of Daniel in 5.14 4.
We should have the spirit of God within us. III)
We Make the Choice A)
We can choose which attitude we will have. 1.
How many parents have told their children to change their attitude? 2.
People are generally about as happy as they allow themselves to be, 1 Peter 1.8. Conclusion:
2 Timothy 1.7 – spiritual love,
spiritual power, spiritual sanity; comes from the Gospel. |