ATTITUDE
In life there are many things that we encounter differently. And we also come at different cross roads at different or same intervals but what keeps one on the right track and leaves one at the cross road is attitude. In 2011, the Year of Great Things as youth if we are to see it fulfilled in our lives and Church , we need to deal with the way we think, reason, see things and the way we do things. And that will only be possible if we work towards changing our attitude.
What is attitude?
From the American Heritage Dictionary 4th Edition Attitude is:
A state of mind or a feeling; disposition
There’s a saying that explains best the state of different minds.
- Simple minds discuss People
- Ordinary minds discuss events
- Great minds discuss ideas (not just ideas but great ideas).
From the dictionary attitude is explained as a state of mind. And so today I what us to look at the link between Attitude and Greatness (How your state of mind connects you to greatness or failure).
There are certain things that define your personality, your fulfillment and your value. Your attitude is very important. Attitude is the way to altitude. We can say something that is right with the wrong attitude and that destroys the right thing we said.
A lot of people in life are not necessarily doing or saying something wrong but they just have the wrong attitude. Many times we hear wrongly not because what is said is wrong but we have a wrong attitude in listening. Did you know that one of the reasons certain people find themselves a step forward and two steps back and then some other times everything looks to be fine yet spiritually they are not fulfilled? It’s the wrong attitude. Sadly a lot of people who have a wrong attitude hardly discover they have a wrong attitude. So they blame everyone else around them for the things that go wrong about them. They think someone else is responsible yet no one is responsible but they just have the wrong attitude.
Your attitude can define your personality; it can define your fulfillment. Do you know that there are people who are not fulfilled? There not fulfilled at home. They are not fulfilled in their jobs. They are not fulfilled in their families. That’s why there are multitudes of youths who are still in the exodus. They move from one job to another, from one ministry to another, from one relationship to another, from one marriage to another, name it. Why? It’s because they are not fulfilled and their wrong attitude. They keep saying I wish I was born in this family, I wish I was the daughter of so and so, I wish I was the one appoint to be the pastor of this or that. They are full of wishes only. Their wrong attitude makes them think that those people they wish they would be are their problem for not being.
One time a young man who would have been an assistant Pastor now in some Church decided to leave Church and went to begin up his own church. Years down the road he failed in ministry and later started saying ‘I would be the one in that position’
Now look what exactly happened here? This young man simply had a wrong attitude. The wrong attitude will always make you not to see the future but see things at the present level. It demands for right now things, right now blessings, right now favors name it.
There is so much to learn about Jesus. Many times in your life when you want to make progress find out about the master’s attitude and find out those whom Jesus praised. Did he praise anybody? And why did He praise the ones He praised? You can also study the Old Testament and find out, those whom God praised why did He praise them? What was their attitude and what was in their character that impressed God?
Let’s look at some examples of people whose attitude made them lower and made others great. Greatness comes when we have the right attitude. And so let’s look at what Jesus said about John the Baptist and John’s response. In Luke 7:28 “I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” And also in Matthew 11:7-11 “As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to behold? A reed shaken by the wind? Why then did you go out? To see a man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, those who wear soft raiment are in kings' houses. Why then did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, 'Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee.' Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” (RSV).
Why did Jesus commend John the way he did? First of all John didn’t know Jesus as well as you do but look at John’s answer to the question his disciples asked him in John: 3:22-27. “After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. For John was not yet cast into prison. Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying. And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.” (KJV)
If John was in our days, where people love to be praised, John would have decided to compete with Jesus by saying I am the Baptist
Verses 28-29
John’s attitude was the right attitude. There people who are not fulfilled in life because of their attitude.
In the book of Esther about Harman’s attitude. 3:1-6 it speaks of Mordecai not bowing to Harman. In our days it can be likened to someone’ not greeting you. Let me ask you a question if someone doesn’t greet you does it reduce anything from you? No it doesn’t but what makes people want to be greeted so much? It’s the wrong Attitude.
The wrong attitude in you over works your body. For example it took Harman strength to pursue for the destruction of the Jews but at the end his time was wasted, his strength was misused and his body was destroyed
The wrong attitude looks for things like favor, honor, positions etc while the right attitude seeks after the one who gives things and that is God.
In 1peter5:5-6 the Bible tells us to avoid the temptation of measuring ourselves with others.
“And you who are younger must follow your leaders. But all of you, leaders and followers alike, are to be down to earth with each other, for-- God has had it with the proud, But takes delight in just plain people. So be content with who you are, and don't put on airs. God's strong hand is on you; he'll promote you at the right time” (MSG).
Another person we should look at is Moses. First and fore most, from the history of Moses we see that much as he was a leader, he did not enter the Promised Land. But I want us to look at why God said Moses was the meekest on earth?
Exodus 32:10 Let me alone now, give my anger free reign to burst into flames and incinerate them. But I'll make a great nation out of you.
Here we see God very angered by the sins of the people. When God wanted to destroy the people he told Moses that as for you Moses I will make you great. In our days if some people were to be Moses they would have said “glory, glory or thank you God” why because our wrong attitude always loves to lift our selves. Moses would have decided to say ‘see I am highly anointed’. But let’s see what Moses said to God;
Exodus 32:32 and now, if you will only forgive their sin. . . . But if not, erase me out of the book you've written."
Moses attitude was always towards the saving of souls not there destruction. Moses is a man who always went to God for an answer.
Wrong attitude also sees no death even when there’s a hooting. Today in our country there’s a debate going on the ANTI- HOMOSEXUALITY BILL. Now if our leaders’ state of mind is the right one, should there be anything to debate about on homosexuality? Even when they are seeing death and destruction a head of our young Generation yet they still rally behind the interests of homosexuality why? They have the wrong attitude. Fellow youths and the entire Ugandan society, I want you to know that from the research carried out many people who are supporting homosexuality are not really homosexuals but they are people / leaders with the wrong attitude towards money. They don’t mind of your children as long as they get the money. And for those who sodomize our young generation what makes them do that? It’s because they adopted their master’s attitude, the Devil. And who can stop them? It’s people like you and me who have the right attitude.
Finally I want to tell my dear friend reading this message. Inspite of the age, color, Country etc the issue of attitude is very vital to all of us. Therefore having read this message I believe with all my heart that for this one more time you will begin doing things the right way and with the right attitude. Having the right attitude about things and life made Joseph a prime minister in a foreign land. Remember Joseph went through a lot but that did not change his attitude about the master’s plan for his life. That’s why he went through the Pit, Potiphar’s wife, the Prison, and now the Prime Minister. What made him overcome it’s the right state of mind. Thus you are a candidate of greatness in this year 2011 if only you change your attitude about life.
May God bless you
Mr. Bril Emma Opanyi
JESUS IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY & FOREVERMORE
No comments:
Post a Comment