Attitude

What’s the kind of person that Jesus is looking for? FAITHFUL people.

A couple of weeks ago I began with the first letter in the acronym: “F”, for Faithfulness. The next letter “A” stands for “Attitude”. Do you have the right attitude or the wrong attitude? A good attitude or a bad attitude? It makes a whole lot of difference.

I’m not sure who was the first person to say this, but leadership experts like John Maxwell have quoted it— “Your attitude determines your altitude.” It’s an analogy taken from aeronautics. We know what “altitude” means in flying, but what’s “attitude”? “Attitude” is about an aircraft’s orientation in relation to its direction of motion. How high a plane flies (altitude) depends on its orientation (attitude). Applying to human behaviour and its corresponding result, that is so true—our attitude determines our altitude.

Jonathan was someone who had the right attitude. He was the king’s son and next in line to the throne, and yet when David came on the scene he never saw him as a threat. In fact, he was willing to step aside if David was the Lord’s choice to replace his father. Jonathan had the right attitude. He was deeply committed to do what was right (you don’t take justice into you own hands and get rid of your competition). He was fiercely loyal to his friend, David, even if it meant endangering himself (his father tried to kill him). Read 1 Sam 20. And he willingly and humbly played the supporting role, instead of vying for the lead role. That’s attitude for you—the right attitude.

Leonard Bernstein, the renowned conductor, was once asked which instrument was the most difficult to play. He thought for a moment and then replied, “The second fiddle. I can get plenty of first violinists, but to find someone who can play the second fiddle with enthusiasm—that’s a problem. And if we have no second fiddle, we have no harmony.” How true. The right attitude is when we can say, it doesn’t matter who gets the credit, as long as the job gets done.

Jonathan did not only have the right attitude, he also had the “can do” attitude. The whole of Israel’s army were in fear because they were outnumbered and out-“gunned” by the Philistines. But Jonathan was not to be outdone. With just his armour bearer he went on to rout an entire enemy’s outpost, which then ignited the courage of the Israelite soldiers to join in the battle.

I like Jonathan’s “can do” attitude, and we certainly need much more of that. No, it wasn’t foolhardy. It was courageous. Neither was it about trusting in his own ability. He clearly put his faith in the Lord who could save “whether by many or by few” (v6). “Can do” Christians can do because they believe what God says and are willing to step out in faith to do it (v8-10).

Do you see a glass half-empty or a glass half-full? Do you see a sunset or a sunrise? Do you see problems or do you see possibilities? For a long time now we’ve been talking about change. And the first thing we need to change is our attitude. Let’s have a “can do” attitude.

With our new focus on the New, the Young & the Unchurched will you say with me “Can do!”? Ask, vis-à-vis your area of ministry responsibility and influence:
• What can I do?
• Where can I start?
• Who can I influence?
• When can I begin? *

Jesus is looking for people in His church with the right attitude. People who will carry out their God-assigned role in humility and with a “can do” spirit.

“Can do!”
PrSH

* The answer is “Now!”