Proper Attitudes

TEXT: Prov. 23:7

INTRODUCTION:

A. WORD "ATTITUDE" NOT IN BIBLE, BUT HAVING RIGHT ONE A MUST.

B. DEFINED: "ONE'S DISPOSITION, OPINION, MENTAL SET."

C. SEEN IN WHAT WE SAY AND DO( Luke 6:43-45; Prov. 23:7 ).

D. WE MUST HAVE A PROPER ATTITUDE:

I. TOWARD SELF.

A. WHO ARE WE?

1. In relation to the Universe? Time?

2. Do these depend on us to continue?

B. MAN IS GOD'S CREATION( Acts 17:26 ), DOES HE NEED US?( vs. 24-25 ).

C. IS ONE INDIVIDUAL MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANOTHER? ( Rom. 2:11; 1 Tim. 2:4 ).

D. THIS IS TRUE IN THE CHURCH, ALSO( 1 Cor. 12:21-22 ).

E. THOSE WHO CONSIDER THEMSELVES RIGHTEOUS OR WISE BEWARE! ( 1 Cor. 10:12; 1 Cor. 3:18 ).

F. WITH GOD MAN CAN DO ALL ( Phil. 4:13 ). WITHOUT HIM...?

G. WE MUST SEE OURSELVES AS WE ARE ( Rom. 12:3 ).

ONLY THEN WILL WE TURN TO GOD FOR HELP.

II. TOWARD MATERIAL THINGS.

A. THEY ARE NOT NECESSARY FOR HAPPINESS ( Phil. 4:11 ).

B. MATERIAL THINGS OFTEN THE SOURCE OF SORROW ( 1 Tim. 6:10 ).

C. MATERIAL THINGS ARE AT BEST TEMPORARY (Matt. 6:19-21).

D. NOTHING THAT WE CAN ACCUMULATE WHILE HERE ON EARTH WILL HELP US IN JUDGMENT ( 1 Tim. 6:7 ).

E. PURSUING MATERIAL THINGS MAY EVEN HURT US( Matt. 6:24; 1 Tim. 6:9 ).

F. THIS PURSUIT MUST BE KEPT IN PERSPECTIVE ( Matt. 6:33; Jas. 1:17 ).

G. IN FACT, WE ARE TO USE THESE THINGS TO GOD'S GLORY( Luke 16:9 ). IN THIS MATERIAL THINGS SERVE US, NOT US THEM.

III. TOWARD OTHER PEOPLE.

A. CONSIDER THE COMMAND OF THE LORD( Luke 10:27 ).

1. Who is my neighbor? Jesus chooses the least likely person for this lawyer of the Jews to love, a Samaritan, and says, "He's your neighbor, love him."

2. ( 1 John 4:20-21; Matt. 5:43-44 ).

B. LOVE MUST BE ACTIVE IN US(1 John 3:17-18; 1 Cor. 13:4-7).

IV. TOWARD GOD.

A. GOD IS OUR CREATOR, BUT HE IS ALSO A LOVING FATHER(James 1:17).

B. GOD KNOWS OUR NEEDS AND CARES FOR US ( Mat. 6:8; 1 Pet. 5:7 ).

C. HE LOVED US ENOUGH TO SEND JESUS( John 3:16 ).

D. GOD MUST BE APPROACHED WITH RESPECT ( Heb. 10:31; 12:28-29 ).

E. BUT HE MAY BE APPROACHED WITH CONFIDENCE( Heb. 4:15-16 ).

F. GOD MUST BE RESPECTED AND OBEYED( Matt. 10:28; 7:21 )

G. HIS LOVE, GOODNESS MOTIVATE US TO LOVE HIM BACK( Matt. 22:37 ).

H. LOVE WILL RESULT IN A LIFE OF SERVICE( John 14:15 ).

CONCLUSION:

A. WHAT I WOULDN'T GIVE IF I COULD INSTILL IN THOSE I LOVE THE PROPER ATTITUDES TO GUIDE AND CONTROL OUR LIVES.

B. WHAT ABOUT YOUR ATTITUDE?