The Sacrificed Attitude

750 Engaging Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers and Writers (321: Humility)

Violin virtuoso Joshua Bell is that rare prodigy who has matured into a world-class musician and an acclaimed interpreter of Mozart, Beethoven and Tchaikovsky.

The 55-year-old Bell has always been driven, even while growing up in Bloomington, Ind. Whether it was chess, computers, video games or the violin, Bell had a need to master his environment.In some quarters, he’s already arrived at his pinnacle.

Years ago back home in Bloomington, a twelve-year-old boy approached him and announced, “You’re Joshua Bell. You’re famous.”

“Well, ummm, not really,” Bell replied.

“Yes, really,” the kid insisted.

Intrigued Bell asked him why he was famous.

The young man answered “You’re famous because your name is on every video game in the arcade as the highest scorer.”

Greatness is measured in different ways by different people. The kingdom of heaven, too, has its own standard of greatness: namely, humility and servanthood.

This is the core of what we find in our passage today. Last week, Paul encouraged us as believers to adapt to life in Christ by being living sacrifices mind and body.

Today, we Paul find pressing this idea:

Romans 12:3 ESV

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

Paul speaking from the glorious grace given him is calling us to have an attitude that reflects His own attitude.

This is a call that we find throughout scripture.

Philippians 2:5–8 ESV

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Following Christ means that all of us, body, soul, and mind are transformed by the living word of God.

So how do I have the attitude of Christ?

A CHRISTLIKE FRAME OF MIND (Matthew 22:37)

The first key to having an attitude that doesn’t take itself too highly is to have a proper focus on God.

Matthew 22:37 ESV

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

An attitude that doesn’t think to highly of itself is an attitude that daily sits at the feet of its king in humble submission.

It’s easy when you’re focused on your self, your life, your successes, your blessings to think to highly of yourself. We all like to think we’re smart, or pretty, or clever.

But, an attitude that is focusing on God is hard-pressed to glorify itself.

Daily Praise of God is essential to putting ourselves in the right frame of mind.

Remembering daily God’s Nature (Phil. 2:6)

Philippians 2:6 ESV

who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

John 5:30 ESV

“I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.

Jesus submitted himself daily to God, and we are to do the same. Let me suggest a way to do this: Take time in the mornings to make a list of attributes of God. As you read your daily scripture reading, note attributes you see in God and praise him for them.

It’s hard to think yourself wise when you sit in the presence of Wisdom Himself.

It’s hard to think yourself powerful when you worship the Omnipotent One.

It’s hard to think yourself great when you see daily the Great I Am.

Repent of Your Sinfulness Daily (Prov. 28:13)

Proverbs 28:13 ESV

Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

Another way to have an attitude that doesn’t think to highly of itself is the act of daily confession.

Romans 12:3 (ESV)

"think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned”

This is a reminder to think of ourselves rightly, to see our sin and to bring it to God. God calls us to be men and women of repentance. Repentance is not about self flagellation. It’s not about beating yourself up.

No one goes to the hospital and chides himself for catching a disease. In the same way, True repentance isn’t about beating yourself up, but about seeking restoration from the God we love.

“True repentance never leads to despair. It leads home. It leads to grace.” — John Ortberg

Biblical repentance is about coming home.

A Christlike FOCUS (Matthew 5:16)

A second characteristic of a Christlike attitude is having a Christlike Mission.

Philippians 2:7 ESV

but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Jesus’ life was marked by a mission. That mission was to be a servant. In the same way you and I have a mission. We are giving a duty. That mission is simply this: To be disciples of Christ.

If we are going to have a “Him-First” attitude, our minds must be shaped by Christ.

Romans 12:3 (ESV)

each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

Paul in this text calls us to see ourselves according to “the measure of faith that God has assigned.” Each of us have a ministry that God has given us to do within the body.

Ephesians 4:11–13 ESV

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

Notice you are I were given a blessing in the church. In this church we are given Shepherds (Pastors) and teachers, given by God for the benefit of the body. But that benefit, that calling to which I was called is given in this passage. Look at verse 12

Ephesians 4:12 ESV

to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

God has given each person in this room today a work of ministry that you are called to for the building up of the body. Our job is to work for the building of the kingdom.

Do you know who are often the loudest and most argumentative people in the church? The ones who do little to nothing to serve the body. It’s hard fuss when you’re busy serving. God has called us to serve:

Deacons, you are called to serve by ministering to the widows, orphans, the homeless and the helpless in our church.

Teachers you are called to serve by giving the word and instructing.

Nursery workers serve by taking care of children, preparing them for the gospel.

Children’s workers poor the word of God into our kids hearts.

Ushers, take up the tithes, an act of worship, and welcome people to worship.

This is the body, and a christlike attitude, an attitude that reflects Christ is an attitude that is busy doing the work God has for his church.

So how do I have do this? Seek Christ and ask him to give you clarity on the work he has for you. That work will change with age, or situation. A teacher at one age, may be a prayer-warrior at another. A deacon at one stage of life may become a nursery worker, or a pastor in another.

The key is that we seek God’s kingdom and his righteousness until we are taken home.

It’s hard to look down on people we are lovingly serving, that’s the key to having a Christlike attitude.