The Importance of Attitude
Philippians 2:14-15
Florida resident Latreasa Goodman called 911 three times in one day. The emergency? McDonald’s was out of Chicken McNuggets. She had paid for them, but McDonald’s wanted to switch them for a McDouble, and Ms. Goodman appealed to 911, saying, “This is an emergency. If I would have known they didn’t have McNuggets, I wouldn’t have given my money, and now she wants to give me a McDouble, but I don’t want one.” She was cited for misusing the 911 system.
It’s frustrating when a fast-food place doesn’t get your order right, but it’s not really an emergency, is it? The truth is, many of the things that upset us aren’t really worth it. We tend to take little events and blow them up into big things — especially in relationships. In the movie Ruthless People, Danny DeVito wants to kill his wife because “I hate the way she licks stamps.”
In Colossians, Paul gives some very simple and straightforward advice. “Put up with each other.” (Colossians 3:13 CEV) The King James Version uses the
word ‘forbear,’ but the CEV captures the real meaning of the Greek. An important part of living the Christian life is learning to put up with annoying situations and the annoying habits of some people, responding instead with a spirit of love and patience. When events irritate you, strive not to overreact.
Paul said, “Do everything without grumbling or arguing. Then you will be the pure and innocent children of God.” (Philippians 2:14-15) Paul is talking about our attitude.
Clement Stone said: “There is a little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative.”
Charles Swindoll said: “The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude in life. Attitude is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It will make or break a company…a church…a home.”
He continues: “The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change the past…we cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we do is play on the one thing we have, and that is our attitude…We are in charge of our attitudes.”
I want my ministry to be defined by a good attitude. I want to look back at my performance and see that I attacked every job with enthusiasm and commitment. Holiness—which we long for, which we need, and which God wants from us— begins with an attitude.
Do everything without complaining and arguing so that you may become blameless and pure.