Having the RIGHT Kind of Attitude!

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross”, Philippians 2:3–8

Ever been around people who always have that positive outlook on everything? Yes, the ones who you feel are faking it! Especially when you have experienced the exact issues, they are going through.  Their responses go something like this; God will make a way! God is always good! It could be worse! I bet even reading these statements possibly cause a riot within you.  Ever ask, why do I feel worked up over these responses? Let’s evaluate the attitude being displayed.

It is said that having the right kind of attitude determines your altitude-how far you can go in life and how successful you can be.  I remember reading in an Aircraft Handbook a few years ago that a pilot flying an airplane is most concerned with the attitude of the plane.  Let me explain: The attitude of the plan describes the POSITION of the aircraft to the horizon.  When the aircraft is climbing, it has the aviation term a “nose-high attitude,” and when it is diving, a nose-down attitude.  Pilots are concerned with the attitude because it indicates the plane’s performance.  Interestingly, its speed decreases when the aircraft is in a nose-high attitude. Why, you ask? You will think the plane needs the speed to keep in motion!  While this is theoretically true, practically, when climbing, it does not depend on these vectors (speed and thrust) but rather the power of the engine to nose up in the air.  Amazing!

What sustains the aircraft in climbing is not how fast or powerful the thrust or the capacity of lift it possesses but the power of its engine.  The aircraft just needs first to position itself in the right attitude. J. Hampton Keathley III describes attitude this way, “Attitudes can be like cobwebs which clutter up the mind and cause us to fail in the purposes of God. Or they can be like an interstate highway to an automobile, smoothing the way to our destination”, May 24th, 2004.

We are judged by our actions, and these actions have embedded in them indicative of our attitudes.  Because attitude is an essential element for our Christian walk, scripture helps us deal with our thinking which produces our attitude and, in turn, our actions.  Proverbs 23:6-7 shows that a man who thinks selfishly will invariably act in hypocrisy.  When writing to the church in Philippi, Paul placed an attitude indicator before the believers.  He said to them, “Let this (mind) attitude be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” Phil 2:5.

If we are to be like the aircraft, not depending on our abilities but rather the capacity of God within us, we must first position ourselves well toward Christ and ask, what is the right attitude to have? What is the secret to the people we get frustrated with when faced with adversities and understand God will make a way? Paul writes the two basic principles in Philippians 2:3-8 to foster the right kind of attitude:

1. Selflessness – Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind, let each of you regard one another as more important than himself;

The pathway to salvation was death to self.  Jesus modelled it.  We are to regard others above us—what a powerful statement.  Like the plane letting go of its strength and might during climbing, we are to let go of ourselves and allow God to channel through us in the midst of others.

2. Security – Who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself. Taking the form of a bondservant and being made in the likeness of men.

When your attitude is selfless, you are secure in your walk. There is no guessing if you are doing what is right or not. There is no second guessing because your attitude is in check with the guidelines of your master, God, who sent you.  Jesus Christ was secure in His ways. He said, I only do what I see my father doing! Total dependant on God.  Like the airplane, how far it will go depends on the engine’s capacity.

Are you totally dependent on Christ within you? God wants to produce in us the character of Christ so that we will set our minds “on the things above, not on the things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:2). And it is that character trait in us, that attitude or response to circumstances that others will see. Our attitudes can determine how effective or ineffective our witness will be.

We develop an ungodly attitude if we grumble or complain when going through unpleasant or difficult circumstances. That ungodly attitude produces an ungodly action and an ungodly witness.

God desires in all circumstances that we have a godly attitude, which produces a godly action and, in turn, a godly witness.

Although we often fail in our responses to circumstances, we must always remember God’s promise, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness” I Corinthians 12:9.

The right attitude leads to a good life no matter the circumstance – a Godly attitude leads to glory in heaven.