Attitude

Charles Swindoll is perhaps most quoted for his statements about attitude. At the end of the day, it is our one choice in everchanging circumstances, the one string upon which we play the melody and harmony of our lives. In this choice is the power to set in motion a domino affect of emotions and actions. Attitude (including our perceptions of things) influences feelings, reactions, responses and behaviors more than the situations we face (with a few notable and tragic exceptions). Even then, how we play the hand we are dealt defines us, not the hand itself.

So when Paul wrote to the Philippians, he knew he was going to lay a big expectation at their doorstep. Rather than diving in with both feet, he first reminded them of his love for them, his appreciation of their partnership with him, and his faith that God would complete them. He went on to anchor them anew in the encouragement, compassion, tenderness and unity of living together in Christ. Then he presented the big expectation:

Your attitude shoiuld be the same as that of Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5

I have to admit that I am used to reading this verse. It no longer shocks me. I can't remember whether it ever did. Maybe in my youth, my understanding of the gap between my attitude and that of Christ was limited. But, as I take this passage phrase by phrase, allowing the Holy Spirit to carry the verses deep into my heart, I am painfully aware that to me, the command (more specifically the expectation) seems impossible to me now.

The beautiful section that follows is poetic in nature, generally believed to be a hymn to Christ in the early church. It is worth savoring, and I hope to do so in these posts in the weeks to come. Suffice it to say, at this juncture, the passage describes the self-sacrificial love of Jesus Christ, who willingly left the throne next to God the Father and came to dwell among us. His perfect life was then given on our behalf as he humbled and emptied himself in obedience to the Father. Because of this obedience on his part, and his willingness to do whatever was needed, ultimately all creation will bow before him.

Paul certainly was a man well acquainted with human nature. The letter to the Romans especially makes it clear that in our nature, we are fallen. Even when we know the right thing to do, we cannot (or do not) seem to do it consistently (Romans 7). So, I am surprised when he makes such sweeping statements as: put sin to death; love your wife as Christ loves the church; have the same attitude  as Jesus. Talk about your high expectations. Potentially, these commands are discouraging--who can do them?

Indeed we would find ourselves in a hopeless situation were it not for the persistent and patient work of God in us. It is he who will complete in us the good work he has started (1:6). As he does, we are to fix our eyes on the One we follow. If God the Son did not see himself as being too good to do anything and everything God asked of him for the benefit of people, who are we to do otherwise? This is a verse to aspire to. It lays before us the ideal of being transformed into the image of Jesus. As we aspire, let's check our attitudes frequently.

The attitude check might sound something like this:
Is my attitude right now like the self-sacrificial attitude of Christ?

And the appropriate response--
God help me to love you and others more fully, so that my attitudes and actions more closely resemble those of Jesus.

Amen

Interest

Interest is a fascinating word, really.Bankers love the word, as it represents the amount of return they get for the services involved in loaning us other people's money.  If we are attentive to something, it us usually because we find it interesting. The degree of interest we have in the subject (or person) is usually in direct correlation to the attention we give it (or them). As humans, our tendency is to be interested in ourselves. It is because of this tendency that Paul had to exhort the Philippians to care about others, saying:

Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.Philippians 2:4

The wording seems to acknowledge that we will look to our own interests. There is no need for a commandment to do that. Nor does he command us not to look to our own interests. The command is that, as we do so, we need to look also to the interests of others.

The writer has carefully laid out the basis of all Christian motivation and actions: we are encouraged by our unity with Christ; we are receive comfort from his love, along with tenderness and compassion. Therefore, we are to make Paul's joy complete by being like-minded, having the  same love, being one in spirit an purpose. This will result in the absence of selfish motivations and vain conceit, and we will attend to the interests of others (just as we attend to our own). I am reminded of the second greatest command: Love your neighbor as yourself. The second part is less a command than an acknowledgement. It is the loving others part we needed a commandment for.

In your conversations with others, do you actually listen to the answers for the questions you ask. Do you find yourself eager to turn the conversation back to yourself? Does every story remind you of a story about yourself? These are hidden clues that we may be more self-centered than not. And it is time for a heart adjustment. As infants, we are the center of our own little worlds. As we mature, we realize (hopefully) that we share the world with millions of others. Our interests, our stories, are not the center of everything. In fact, we are to consider others as better than ourselves.

God is not asking us to do anything that he has not already done, and Paul is about to elaborate on the attitude of Jesus. It is through his eyes we are to see one another; it is with his heart we are to love one another...at any cost!

As we go about our days, as we engage with one another at home, in the workplace, on the street or in the church, let us look to the interests of others. His Holy Spirit within us wants to do so, but we will have to move our egos out of the way. Ironically, as we do so, we find our true fulfillment in the law of love.