The Importance of Attitude
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:””
The Importance of Attitude
God knows that your attitude is the most important thing about you.
I met a man once who had served in the military and he talked about the training he went through for piloting a helicopter. They would run drills such as helicopter crashes by suspending the fuselage forty feet over a pool and dropping them. He and a few of the other members of his squad would be placed in different spots each time they did this so that they would all be prepared for a crash from any position. They were constantly drilled on this so that no matter what situation they were in, no matter what seat they had, they had a perfectly calm and prepared attitude.
Why do I tell you this? The truth is the state of your attitude is the most important thing about you. Attitude determines your joy, your maturity, and your success. One leader said,
“I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me, and 90% how I react to it.” - Chuck Swindoll
There is an interesting Greek lesson found in Philippians 2:1-5, you see, we do not have a perfect English translation for the phrase, “mindset” or “attitude.” In other words, it’s not a “one-to-one” word. The root word here is φρον (phron): It’s not just Mind or Mindset, it is more like attitude or demeanor. Check this out:
vs. 2a αὐτὸ φρονῆτε (translation: Same-attitude)
vs. 2b ἓν φρονοῦντες (translation: One-attitude)
vs.5 τοῦτο φρονεῖτε (translation: This-attitude)
What’s interesting to see is that this is not a noun this is a verb! This isn’t about us all wearing the same jersey or even all of us having the same opinion. We are called not to do this internally but externally! It is one of the most practical commands of how we are called to live! This is having the same mind, one attitude, the very mind or attitude of Christ Jesus!
So what does this look like practically? Glad you asked—Paul explains it by telling a story about Jesus in the form of a beautiful song, a poetic piece of literature. Here’s what he says,
“Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God
something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.” - Philippians 2:6-11
So what kind of attitude is this? What kind of attitude has Christ demonstrated for us? I believe there are three essential aspects to the attitude of Christ that we are called to embody.
A Humble Attitude
The first is that we are called to have a humble attitude. Scripture tells us that we are to value one another above ourselves, while also looking to the interests of others, over and above our own interests (Philippians 1:1-4). So what does this mean?
I believe this means that you and I aren’t supposed to think less of ourselves but to think of ourselves less. It means taking our eyes off of the ever-present self-centeredness that we all struggle with and placing our focus on seeing the needs of others. It is the putting off of the self-centered vain conceit. Nothing will destroy your life faster than pride. In your relationships, it’ll push them away; in your job, it’ll sabotage your growth. It will suffocate and choke out every good thing in your life.
A Servant Attitude
The second is that we are called to have a servant attitude. Not only are we to take our eyes off of ourselves, but we’re told to value others above ourselves. What does that mean? Does that mean viewing others as better? No! It means viewing others as being worthy of being served by you. It means viewing others because they have been created in the Image of God. This is what Jesus does for us.
He looks upon a world of little image bearers who have forsaken and rebelled against God—where no one is righteous, everyone has fallen short of the standard of a beautiful, perfect, divinely good God. Yet this same God serves us. He does not serve us based on our merit, but he serves us because that is his attitude. Which is why the last piece is so important.
A Loving Attitude
Finally, the core of the attitude of Jesus is simple love. Jesus shows His love to the Father by his obedience, even death in the most brutal way—on a cross! I’ve said this before but I am once again reminded by scripture that Jesus provides both the method and motivation for living life with a humble, serving, and loving attitude.
My prayer for us is that we would heed Paul’s encouragement and command, that we would receive the same attitude of Jesus, the same mindset of Christ—a humble, serving, loving attitude of grace. May you be blessed.
