Attitude is Everything

Introduction

ILLUS: Harry Emerson Fosdick once told how as a child, his mother sent him to pick a quart of raspberries. Reluctantly he dragged himself to the berry patch. His afternoon was ruined for sure. Then a thought hit him. He would surprise his mother and pick two quarts of raspberries instead of one. Rather than drudgery his work now became a challenge. He enjoyed picking those raspberries so much that fifty years later that incident was still fresh in his mind. The job hadn’t changed. His attitude had, though, and attitude is everything

We see throughout the Bible that the attitude of the individual affects the actions of that individual.

ILLUS: Boaz had a deep respect for God when the culture at the time only worried about oneself. His attitude towards God allowed him to offer food and protection to Ruth, which led to a marriage that would solidify the lineage of Jesus. His attitude was everything!

Why does this matter? Why are attitudes and actions important?

For the Christian, it is because we are ambassadors of Christ. For the world will know we are Christians by the love we show. Many times people cite that the hypocritical and unloving actions of the church is what led them away from the faith, and many times it is the selfless attitude and actions of individuals that bring people into the faith. Attitude is everything!

Timothy had the sincere faith of a believer, but his timid attitude appeared to not directly align with that faith; especially in a time when he truly needed to take a strong stand and act courageously no matter the outcome.

2 Timothy 1:8 ESV

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,

Throughout these verses Paul tells him that our attitudes and actions should not prevent us from fully utilizing our gifts, and that they should align with the spirit God gave us.

OUR ATTITUDES AND ACTIONS SHOULD NOT PREVENT US FROM FULLY UTILIZING OUR GIFTS

When I hear the stories about people from the Bible completing massive acts of faith, I have to be careful and remember they were simply human.

They had their flaws: like Abraham lying about his relationship with Sara

They stumbled: like David’s immoral relationship with Bathsheba

They failed: like Peter’s denial of Jesus

They had to have reminders: much like Paul has done to Timothy

“For this reason I remind you to fan into the flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands “(2 Timothy 1:6)

What was this reminder?

It is that our attitudes and actions should not prevent us from fully utilizing our gifts.

I see many Christians who seem concerned they have not received a spiritual gift, or they cannot figure out what gift they have. Here’s the good news: Every Christian has been given at least one gift from the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:11 ESV

All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

We see people taking tests, assessments, online checklists to help them identify what their God given gift is, and the thought then is once we figure it out we should silo ourself and focus only on this one gift.

That is not how the spiritual gifts work. God calls us to obediently serve Him in all things. He will equip us with whatever gift, or gifts, we need to accomplish the task He has called us to. (GotQuestions)

This is one of the most encouraging thoughts a Christian who thinks they were never given a gift: God provides us gifts to accomplish the tasks He has set before us.

But, just because God has given us a gift, does that mean we are not to cultivate our gift to get better, more refined, and to be more effective?

ILLUS: When a Polish pianist played before Queen Victoria in 1891, he won her enthusiastic approval. She exclaimed, "you are a genius." He humbly shook his head. "Perhaps, Your Majesty, but before that I was a drudge," he replied, alluding to the number of hours he spent practicing every day.

Without practice he may have played a couple of lines of music, with the occasional mistake sounding like a dying goose; however, with an innumerable amount of hours sitting at the piano he was capable of strengthening his skill and using it at his fullest potential.

The same applies with the Christian who has been given a gift from the Holy Spirit. We can minimally apply our gifts, or we can nurture them and see them grow beyond our wildest belief.

Like Timothy we must decide to either fan the flames or let them die.

When you are trying to start a fire, why do you blow on the small, glowing embers?

It is to grow the fire!

It is to increase the flames!

It is to make the fire more intense!

It is to make the fire more effective!

The same is true with our gifts.

Paul told Timothy to “fan into the flame the gift of God” because he knew Timothy’s personality could allow his gifts to sit, stay in an immature state, and ultimately die.

Our gifts are too important to let them die out.

Our gifts are a God-given tool to be used to spread the Gospel and grow the Kingdom of God.

Is it not our duty as Christians to use our gifts, grow our gifts, mature our gifts?

1 Peter 4:10-11 exhorts:

1 Peter 4:10–11 ESV

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Each Christian has been given a gift to use for the glory of God, and each Christian has two options: Either fan the flames and watch your God-given gifts grow, mature, and accomplish the tasks for the common good of the kingdom of God; or, be a poor steward and let the embers of your gifts die out without ever obtaining the potential of a mature gift.

OUR ATTITUDES AND ACTIONS SHOULD ALIGN WITH THE SPIRIT GOD GAVE US

“Fan the flames” of your gifts, Paul says in verse 6, and he continues his thought in verse 7.

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV

for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Now this verse is probably in the top 5 verses to be taken widely out of context. I’ve heard it reference someone's personal liberty to accept or reject medications, vaccinations, or a slew of other things. This is not what Paul is saying.

Paul is getting to the main point that: Our attitudes and actions should align with the Spirit God gave us.

Timothy is described by many as someone who had a timid personality, and Paul is placing a subtle emphasis that he wasn’t using his God-given gifts to their fullest extent possible because of it.

Paul is saying, “Even though your personality is more timid than mine, you were still given a gift from God. Use that gift. Grow that gift. Mature that gift because the Spirit that God gave us does not have us hide and cower in fear, in timidity, in a lack of courage on that path God set before us; rather, we are to stand strong knowing Who has our back for the Spirit that God gave us is a spirit of power, of love, and of self-control.”

If you are a Christian, you have been provided an amazing Spirit!

It is the same spirit that was, “In the beginning”

It is the same spirit that came upon Joshua, Gideon, and Samson.

It is the same spirit that promoted holiness in the Old Testament, and continues to convict and lead people today into holiness.

For the Spirit of God does not induce, produce, or provide a Christian with fear.

The Holy Spirit is one of power, where we can “serve valiantly, endure patiently, suffer triumphantly, and, if need be, die gloriously.”

What kind of spirit do you have?

Do you have a spirit where emotions control you, and cowardice, or fear, consume you?

-OR-

Do you have the spirit of God that is defined by it’s power, love, and discipline?

No great Christian ever became great by hunkering down in fear and waiting for things to pass. They stand up courageously, proclaiming the truth of God in love, no matter how dire the circumstance, and fully relying on the power of God.

Ultimately, our actions and attitudes should align with the spirit God gave us.

CONCLUSION

When we think of courageous people whose attitude and actions aligned with their faith we might imagine someone slaying giants, conquering nations, praying fire from Heaven, or some other massive display.

ILLUS: The famed English politician, William Wilberforce, decided on a less showy display of faith. Throughout his political career he championed many causes, many of which were calls for moral reform in England. Through many illnesses, adversaries, and threats to his life he stayed committed to his faith and worked towards the complete abolition of slavery. Even in death, his acts of faith influenced many people and in 1834 the impact he made found its purpose with the passage of the Slavery Abolition Act.

William Wilberforce’s attitude and actions aligned with his faith and the spirit that God gave him. Without his biblically based convictions he would have never used his gifts to pass one of the largest social reforms of his time.

Attitude is everything!

2 Timothy 1:6–7 ESV

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.