Jump Start # 4103

Romans 12:3 “For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.”

One of the hard things to navigate safely through this journey of life is finding the right attitude. How we think shapes our outlook, our behavior and how we interact with one another. The world doesn’t care about these things and places an unhealthy amount of attention upon self. Things get out of proportion and out of balance that way. The right balance is what God is seeking in us. A couple of my granddaughters are in gymnastics. One of their routines is the balance beam. They do more than just walk across it without falling, they stand on one foot, do handstands and things I cannot imagine ever trying. The key is balance.

Romans 12 reveals three critical attitudes that God wants us to maintain.

1. Attitude towards self (3). Do not think more highly of yourself than you ought to.
2. Attitude towards others (10). Give preference to one another by being devoted to others.
3. Attitude towards those who disagree (17). Never pay back evil for evil by respecting what is right

Attitude. It sure makes a difference in the home, the community and in the congregation. And, it’s hard to maintain these proper attitudes when those around you are not. Sour, bitter and selfish attitudes can pull us into those same unhealthy spirits.

So, how do we keep this right balance in our thinking? The world is not going to help us nor be a good example. Here are a few thoughts:

First, building a faith around the Scriptures is the starting point. Our Lord is the example, not the world. Jesus talking to a woman in Samaria must have really shocked the minds of the apostles. Paul’s words to the Galatians that Jew and Gentile, male and female and master and slave were all one in Christ was not the thinking of the first century world. Gentile Antioch church sending money to a Jewish Jerusalem church to help them was unheard of. It is things like this that will begin to transform our attitudes and thinking. Everyone needs Jesus. Everyone is welcomed by Jesus.

This foundation in our thinking will begin to put an end to prejudice, hatred, indifference and selfishness. I am not better than you. You are not better than me.

Second, the less of newscasts, political commentary and opinionated podcasts and shows that we allow unfiltered into our hearts the better our attitudes will be. There are some who do not like others. And, a constant diet of name calling, blaming others and tearing down the character of others only colors our attitudes. Take a fast from those programs. Give your heart a break. The world will get along fine without your being glued to those things. You’ll find a gentle shift in your attitudinal balance when you pull away from those things and you will recognize how much you were being influenced without even realizing it. Let the Lord shape your thinking not the TV.

Third, open your eyes to the needs around you. Why did the priest and the Levite walk away from the wounded man in the Lord’s parable that we call “The Good Samaritan”? It wasn’t that urge business called them. There is no indication that they sent someone back to help the wounded person. They didn’t care. They had an attitude problem. They were too good to get involved. Don’t be that way. Get your hands dirty by getting in things to help others out. All around us, in our congregations, neighborhoods and work places there are people who are in darkness and need some light shown upon them. There are those who are discouraged and don’t know what they ought to do. There are those who just need someone to show them some attention.

Why me? Because this is the attitude that God wants me to have towards others. Because God has done the same for us. Because others have been there for us.

The world has a lot of “Stinkin’ Thinkin” these days. What a breath of fresh air to find those who have no agenda other than to help. Those who are kind and gentle, even when it come to correcting. Those who put others before themselves. Those who have learned to have the mind of Christ in them.

Attitudes are a choice. We think the way we do because we have chosen that path. The good thing about all of this is that you can adjust and even change your attitude.

The right balance in thinking is hard…but God is counting on us to get this right.

Roger