Living the Christian life demands that we develop right attitudes and motivations. Here are some attitudes that we should definitely not develop.
Has anyone ever accused you of being in a "bad attitude"?
What, exactly, is a "bad attitude"?
It's easy, of course, to tell when others are not rightly motivated not thinking as true Christians should — isn't it? After all, you can hear their nasty remarks. You can see the wrong things they do and the selfishness they display. You may wonder. How can anyone be so bad?
Good question' But how about you'' Aren't you. at least and maybe more than occasionally, in a similar frame of mind? Do you abhor your own behavior as much as you do others? Do you always recognize when you are in a bad attitude? Are you deeply, honestly aware of it?
Perhaps you mislead someone — or maybe cloud the issue or exaggerate the facts. Or you are harsh toward a friend. Or you turn down an opportunity to help. Are you converted enough to repent of your mistake, to try to repair the damage and to do what you are supposed to do?
Some people are only in a good attitude when everything goes well with them - when their needs are fulfilled to their own satisfaction. But is there any merit in that? Can you still be in a good attitude when you are sick or when you lose a job or when people spread false rumors about you? Can you still fully live the Christian way when things get really tough''
Attitude spells success or failure depending on whether the attitude is good or bad. A good attitude can mean a happy home. a pleasant job situation, genuine friends — certainly a closer relationship with God. But a bad attitude can result in a broken home. unhappy surroundings, frustrations and loneliness!
For the true Christian, having the right attitude is all-important. God judges us according to our attitudes! Having the right attitude is our key to God's Kingdom.
After God's heart
Consider the criterion God used to choose David to be king over Israel.
When God told Samuel to go to the house of Jesse to find out which of Jesse's sons God would select to replace King Saul. Samuel first looked as we all do — at the sons' appearances.
"But the Lord said to Samuel, Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him for the lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" " (verse 7).
And God chose David. But why? What made David, and not his brothers, a man after God's own heart? The Bible clearly reveals the answer in one single verse: "I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will" (Acts 13:22).
Notice it! David was a man after God's own heart because he was ready and willing to fulfill all God's will. Not his will, but God's. Despite his main sins and none of us is without sin - David's heart was right.
This mental frame of wanting to obey and serve God is the essence of a right altitude and its the opposite of a bad attitude. When you are wrong, are you willing to admit it? The hardest thing for any human being to do is admit that he is wrong. But a willingness to see and correct error is an important part of a right attitude.
Christ gave a striking example to illustrate the importance of correcting wrong: "A man had two sons." Christ said, in parable, "and he came to the first and said. "Son, go, work today in my vineyard." He answered and said. I will not, but afterward he regretted it and went. Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, 'I go, sir,' but he did not go" (Matt 21:28=30) Which one of the two sons resembles you? The decisions you make may not always be wise, but after thinking things over and examining the facts, arc you Christian enough to change your mind and do what you should have done in the first place?
If you are not willing to recognize your mistakes and change, then Christ will give you the same answer He gave those who heard this parable, saying, "Assuredly. I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you" (verse
31)
Let's briefly examine four major aspects of wrong attitudes. We all have wrong altitudes from time to time, and we need to overcome them. When we do. we will have made a giant step toward the Kingdom of God.
Constantly finding fault
Some people constantly look for faults in their neighbors. They criticize and condemn, making themselves judges. This always-
wanting - to - find - fault attitude makes them feel superior — fills them with self-righteousness.
Do you realize that you can never enter God's Kingdom until you get rid of this altitude?
Christ said: "Judge not. that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the same measure you use. it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye. but do not consider the plank in your own eye?" (Matt. 7:1-3).
Satan was the first to develop and exercise this fault-finding attitude. As the archangel Lucifer. before he became Satan, he-found fault with God's government and began to want to take-God's place Isa. 14:12-14. Ezek. 28:12-15). He influenced a third of all the angels to develop this same rebellious attitude toward God. convincing them to join him in an unsuccessful attempt to knock God off His throne (Rev.12:3-4).
Then, alter God created the first man and woman. Satan convinced Eve that God was wrong to forbid Adam and Eve to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The couple believed Satan and disobeyed God. Consequently, they were afraid when the) heard the sound of their Creator's voice in the garden of Eden. They hid themselves.
When God asked their why, Adam answered. "I was afraid because I was naked: and I hid myself" (Gen 3:10).
"Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat.'" asked God (verse 11).
Adam's answer is typical of one who wants to justify himself by accusing someone else. He didn't think that he should be blamed for his disobedience. According to Adam, it was the woman's fault! "The woman whom You gave to be with me. she gave me of the tree, and I ate," he told God (verse 12).
Did Eve, then, accept any Blame, No, Her answer was just as self-justifying and accusatory as Adam's: She, too, put the blame on someone else, saying. "The serpent deceived me. and I ate" (verse 1 3).
All things considered, Adam probably thought that the fault for the whole incident was God's, since God made the serpent who, in turn, deceived the woman who convinced Adam to eat the fruit.
This reasoning, strange but familial to us all, is called human logic: It enables us to blame-others for our own shortcomings or wrongdoings. Rather than admitting and correcting our mistakes. we declare ourselves innocent and expect others to repent of having been instrumental in our misbehavior.
Before it's too late, we need to get rid of this always-wanting-to-find-fault attitude.
Being unwilling to forgive
Do you easily forgive others' For instance, if there is a misunderstanding between you and another member of your family. are you willing to recognize your faults and to forgive his? Suppose one of your friends does something wrong and. afterward, tells you he really is sorry. Would you forgive him. or would you hold a grudge against him.?
Most of us don't have a forgiving attitude. We want to get even with people, vindicate ourselves. prove our own righteousness. But one thing is sure: If we don't forgive our neighbor. God will not forgive us our sins.
In the model prayer Christ gave. He taught us to ask God to "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" (Malt. 6:12).
Christ added: "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses (verses 14-15).
God is love, He is always willing to forgive us if we truly repent of our sins. He wants us to develop this same forgiving altitude. Remember Christ's answer when Peter asked Him how often he should forgive his brother? Was it seven times? "Jesus said to him, I do not say to you. up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven" " (Matt 18:22).
Afterward, Christ spoke of a servant who owed a considerable amount of money to his master. His master, filled with compassion and showing mercy, forgave him and canceled the debt.
Shortly thereafter, the same servant was unwilling to write off a small debt someone else owed him. He "went out . . and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me what you owe!" So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying. 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all' " (verses 21-29).
But he would not. He threw his fellow servant into prison. Upon hearing this his own master called him and said: "You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity On you?" (verses 32:13).
Of what value are these parables if we don't learn the lessons they contain for our growth?
What would your attitude be if you were arrested on false accusations and sentenced to die? Suppose your persecutors even mocked you and spat on you Would your attitude be one of forgiving those who falsely condemned you?
This actually happened to Stephen. He was arrested, persecuted and falsely accused His attackers cast him out of the city and stoned him. But he knelt and "cried out with a loud voice, 'Lord. do not Charge them with this sin." And when he had said
this, he fell asleep {died]" (Acts 7:60).
A true Christian should have this type of forgiving attitude at all times. This is the attitude Christ Himself had toward His own murderers! He said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (Luke 23:34)
When you repent, God completely forgives and forgets your sins. You cannot enter God's Kingdom unless you learn to forgive your brother's sins.
Feeling sorry for yourself
Some people are perpetual mourners, they can't stop feeling sorry for themselves. Suffering from self pity, they consider themselves victims of circumstance. They seem to be burdened with questions like. "Why me'' and "Why did it have to happen to me?" Somehow everything always seems to go wrong, for them, and they convince themselves that they have no reason to
be happy.
Are you like this? Think of all the seriously handicapped people on earth who have succeeded despite adverse circumstances. These people have worked hard in order to, in many eases, achieve simple things that those of us who are more fortunate take for granted. But whatever their trials, they had one thing in common: They never pitied themselves — never let themselves he discouraged or overcome by their physical handicaps. They didn't waste time complaining about their misfortune.
Are you like this?
Think: If people in the world without God's Spirit - can succeed despite their handicaps, how much more reason do you and I we who have God's Spirit of power — have to succeed! God loves you even it you are Crippled or handicapped. Those
are only temporary physical hindrances, He will never forsake you. Therefore, be courageous and grateful for what you have.
Stop Complaining about what you don't have. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, Greatness was never attained through self-pity.
No one will enter God's Kingdom until he learns to appreciate life.
The apostle Paul suffered more than most people. He endured hardship, persecution and all kinds of false accusations He would have had good reasons, humanly, to pity himself After all, before his conversion, he was a well-respected, powerful individual, filled with zeal for a task he did (Phil. 3:4-6).
When he became a Christian, Paul just about lost everything he had, including his friends in the world. For a long lime even those in the Church doubted his conversion and turned away from him. Also, he continually suffered from a thorn in the flesh some physical handicap (II Cor. 12:7).
Wouldn't you think that Paul had enough reasons to complain and to pity himself? But he didn't. Instead, he wrote for our instruction: "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say rejoice!" (Phil 4:4).
When you rejoice in the Lord you cannot pity yourself. Rejoicing and pitying are opposites. How did Paul endure suffering and still remain in a good attitude? What formula did he use?
Under God's inspiration, he reveals it to us: "Whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, what ever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy meditate on these things" (Phil. 4:8). The greatest curse in life is when you are cut off from God — when you are left without His Spirit. But there is no reason for you to be cut off from God. You are not alone. If you are a true Christian, you have His Spirit Therefore, whatever your problems, you a begotten child of God must never feel sorry for yourself, never pity yourself (I John 3:22). You will always have the courage to go forward in life in the right altitude.
Feeling "holier than thou"
Some people suffer from an inferiority complex: others have a vain sense of superiority. How about you? If you pity yourself, it may be that you suffer from an inferiority complex. On the other hand, if you think of yourself as being better than others if you are boastful then you are manifesting a "holier-than-thou" attitude.
Examine yourself! Do you think of yourself as better than others little more right more generous — more Christian? When you are proven right and someone else is shown to be wrong about something, do you feel superior to them as a human being?
"Whoever desires to be first among you," said Christ, "let him be your slave" (Matt. 20.27).
The book of Proverbs gives us many admonitions regarding vanity, conceit and self-righteousness. For instance, we read in Proverbs 26:12: "Do you see a man wise in his own eyes'? There is more hope for a fool than for him." Or, "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes. But the Lord weighs the hearts" (Prov. 21:2).
In other words, you might think that you have more going for you than someone else. You might consider yourself a better person perhaps a more valuable helper! But whatever your achievements, however great they may be — if you have conceit in your heart you are in the wrong attitude. And unless you repent of that wrong attitude with all your heart, you will never enter the Kingdom of God.
"Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger. and not your own lips" (Prov. 27:2)
Read the parable Christ gave about the prayers of a publican and a Pharisee. The Pharisee, disdaining the publican next to him. had nothing but good to say about his own attitude, his praiseworthy deeds and his willingness to sacrifice. But the publican, realizing how insignificant he was before God, would not even raise his eyes while praying (Luke 18:9-14). God accepted the publican. but not the Pharisee!
Are you a Pharisee or a publican'? Where is your greatness? What do you have that you have not received from God? Every blessing comes from God. All the glory is His (II Cor. 10:17-18).
If you want to be a Christian after God's own heart, then you must get rid of conceit and boastfulness. You must serve in all humility, counting others better than yourself (Phil. 2:3). You must help without seeking glory.
God is not a respecter of persons. He loves us all and wants us all to be great. But remember The greatest among us is the humblest of all and the servant of all!
In this area, as well as in the case of every one of God's commandments, we need to strive mightily to have right attitudes pleasing to God.
Start the change now — don't put it off! Your attitude is the key to making you a Christian after God's own heart — and will unlock before you the door to the Kingdom of God!
By Dibar K. Apartian, Good News Magazine, January 1983
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Brought to you as a Study Resource by the
Church of God Faithful Flock
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Are You Expressing True Love?
Everyone thinks he knows what real out going love is- but few do. Even fewer realize the vital importance of expressing it
Every human being is just naturally interested in his or her own things.
He knows nothing else!
He is interested in his own pleasure. His own happiness. His own profit, His own importance. Charm, Effectiveness, Success, Friends, who mean a lot to him.
Often, He is concerned for others only when he is reminded that he should be, and then it is because doing, nice things makes him feel like a better person. A small sacrifice or a charitable act becomes a means of self exaltation, TO do something nice for others makes him feel good, and makes others admire him.
Yet, in his own mind he thinks he has "love." Truly, as God's Word tells us, man's heart is deceptive above all things and desperately wicked( Jeremiah 7:9).
A Loveless Generation
One of the saddest commentaries of our time is the lack of genuine love and concern for other members of the human race.
Almost everyone suffers from the loneliness of being shut out from the thoughts and actions of others.
Loneliness has come to be a major problem in our modern way of life, it has probably been the cause of more delinquency, destructive acts and desperate behavior than any other single factor.
As Norman Roston wrote in the article "The Ones - Who Wait" published several years ago in The Saturday Evening Post,"you can see them (the unloved) in the city or town, men or women, the young and the old, gathering in the late afternoon or evenings, strolling in the streets, or wandering through stores or in the parks, or sitting on park benches or heading for bars. They are in search of others, the unnamed, the yet to be found, the hour-long or night long companions. And the numberless unseen who merely wait alone in separate rooms, in small desperate rooms, their, hope behind, accepting defeat. These are the ones who have somehow missed the miracle. Passed by while others were chosen."
"Perhaps the saddest of these are the aged and ill, betrayed by the world, forgotten by kin. The living turn cruelly and irrevocably away from the dying. And love, the root of life, withers."
"'I don't know why they're keeping me alive,' said the man in the sun tilled ward in the hospital, his hands flat upon the sheet his head turned toward the window where the sun danced. I'm not going anywhere if I get better. I've got a sister living in California, but she hasn't written for years, and I never hear from my daughters. No one visit's me now except a nun sometimes, who is very nice, but I don't even know her name. It doesn't mean anything."
"It is not merely a matter of age. The loveless exist wherever life may be. They are the obviously scarred or the seemingly well, the wounded with the scar hidden, they are married or single, in and out of careers, in and out of marital beds or motel adventures, all touched by that, shadow of having been denied, forgotten, unblessed."
This is a pitiful, sad commentary on real life! Perhaps you feel that you are being left out of the affection and concern of others.
But what are you doing for others? How about you? Do you have any loved ones going hungry for a word of encouragement, a note or visit that says you care about them?
Truly, outgoing love is in desperately short supply in this generation. If you and I are not careful, we will fall right into the trap that so many people without any knowledge of God's truth are in. But if we will begin to exercise outgoing concern ourselves, our own loneliness will evaporate.
Even though this godless generation makes goodwill diilicult, it is still necessary for human happiness. Life without personal warmth and goodwill is not real living.
Love Absolutely Necessary
People need to see a smile and receive a cheery greeting that some how conveys interest in their welfare, with a willingness to stop and help when necessary. Such love is a vital part of any happy society.
And it will be a prominent, personal, daily quality in God's Kingdom. Those of us who are able to see that outgoing love is, a part of God's way of life, and who have chosen to come out of this world and to learn and practice God's way, may not excuse ourselves from having and practicing outgoing love and concern for others. It is an absolute requirement for any who expect to enter His Kingdom.
Those who have not demonstrated genuine outgoing concern for others in their daily lives will not enter at all (Matthew 25:31-4)!
To those who do not aid the stranger, the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the sick and the confined, Jesus Christ will say, "Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels."
True love is so important that Almighty God warns those without it that they are as worthless as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal (1 Corinthians 13:1).
A personality devoid of outgoing love is a sick personality! It is unpleasant, unwholesome and ineffective.
On the other hand, an outgoing personality adds immeasurably to health, happiness and prosperity. It is a delight to everyone, and it will certainly make the lives of those around much brighter and more worthwhile.
The apostle Paul, wrote: "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing" (I Corinthians 13:1-2).
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This knowledge comes only from, the Bible, and understanding Comes from God's Holy Spirit, which no one possesses naturally.
Without God's Holy Spirit, the only genuine interest we have is self-interest. Unconverted people are interested, in others only in relation to what others mean to them - what they get in return.
Since this world's advisers are without God's Spirit, their writings or examples unwittingly advocate "putting it on" in order to receive. But giving in order to receive is not goodwill. It is pursuing self-profit.
All of us have heard about love and goodwill from people who don't really understand it. We have seen others' examples of what it is supposed to be, but We have received wrong information. Right Knowledge was simply not available because of a lack of spiritual understanding.
Some Are Asleep
Yet even some who have been baptized, have God's Spirit, know God's plan and hope to enter God's Kingdom lack this outgoing love. They just don't think about others. Their fruitless lives make it obvious that they do not actively care for others. They intend to do right. They often think to do good works, yet seldom get around to actually doing them. They try to be nice they often say and do pleasant things They try to be fair.
Yet, no one is benefited. No one's life is being changed. No one's hope is lifted up. No happiness is radiated to others. No joy is spread,. Instead, they are forced to rationalize, defend themselves, argue or retreat. This kind of behavior falls far short of truly outgoing love.
In fact, it is, not love at all.it is merely living up to what we feel is required of us. It is a person's way of demanding credit for being nice. It is selfish.
Goodwill or true outgoing love must come from a Spirit-led heart, Even though the heart of man is not naturally inclined to love his fellows, through God's help we can change.
And there is a lot we must do ourselves.
What can we do?
The formula for receiving God's Holy Spirit is given by the Apostle Peter in Acts 2:38.
Peter said to those pricked in the heart and wanting to do something about their condition: "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Repentance means turning 'from your human way of self-centeredness And pursuing God's way. It means repenting of breaking. God's law. and setting your will to obey from here on.
God will then give you His Holy Spirit, a spirit of a sound mind -- wisdom by which you can intelligently love and consider others. You cannot work up goodwill by yourself.
To act like you have is to be false. Any act, no matter how good; is eventually discovered to be just that - acting.
On the other hand; when we receive God's Holy Spirit we do. not just automatically and mysteriously become perfect. We work toward perfection with much effort on our part using the Spirit God gives us.
God's Spirit opens our minds to realize the importance of others in our lifes and our importance in theirs. The goodwill we give and receive is a vital commodity. We come to realize that fellowship of kindred spirits is most beautiful. God's Spirit also gives us the assurance that this harmonious love and goodwill is worth working for.
If you would like to know more about this vital key, to true outgoing love, write for our free reprint "How You Can Be Imbued with the Power of God" See the middle front cover for the address nearest you.
Your part
Outgoing love requires work along with willpower and determination. It is an uphill pull: because human nature is not natrally outgoing.
Human nature, as influenced by Satan the devil, the "Prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians 2:2) is selfish.. To be outgoing in love cuts against the grain of what we have been absorbing through Satan's influence all our lives.
Wisdom to try - wisdom to correctly guide your efforts - wisdom to keep trying in spite of all adversity, wisdom to discern God's will - is an absolute necessity in learning to exercise true love.
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If any of you lacks wisdom let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him But let him ask in faith, with no "doubting" (James1: 5-6).
In faith, you must stand unwaveringly on your trust and conviction.
In hope, you guide your action expecting to receive the desire you have set your heart on. This hope adds the spiritual motivation to go forward. In love, you must act with un-selfishness, with initiative and genuine concern for everyone.
These three important ingredients are added to your gilt of wisdom through effort on your part they are all important, but the most important, and the one that takes most effort, is love. (I Corinthians I3:13)
Love and Godly Character
This what life is all about. This is how you have your part in your own salvation.
This process of creating Godly Character in us is God's plan of creating children. It is His doing, but we also have our part. Besides our willpower and determination, it takes our resourcefulness, perseverance and drive.
It requires breaking old habits - habits of thinking and acting selfishly. It then requires building new habits - habits of thinking and acting in outgoing love. The old habits are deeply ingrained, just as the new habits must become deeply ingrained if they are to become part of us.
To build a habit .you must do a thing over and over until it becomes automatic behavior. It has been said that we are want we habitually are, and you become godlike when you become habitually and consistently godlike.
God is love and He acts habitually 'and consistently in outgoing love. That is what we are learning to do through HIS Holy Spirit. The basic laws of God are given for the 'purpose of developing godly love and goodwill. They are laws of love (I John 4:8).
The meaning
I Corinthians 13 makes it clear what true love is. The word translated charity in the Authorized Version does not mean "giving to the poor." Verse 3 clearly demonstrates that - read it yourself.
The Greek word translated "charity" is agape, not Phileo which is more commonly used, to denote emotional love. Agape and Phileo have similar meanings, but Phileo "Comes chiefly from the heart," explains Strong's Exhaustive Concordance while agape "comes from the head." It means to think and act toward others with genuine concern and tenderness. It means having goodwill -feeling it deeply but intelligently.
While either word can be translated "love," the Authorized Version translators used "charity"to distinguish this intelligent, heartfelt concern (outgoing love or goodwill) from the kind of emotion that the word love conveys to the average person.
What True Love is Like
Verse 4 shows that this agape, this intelligent outgoing love or goodwill, is always patient with others, suffering long with any grievance received from them.
It is kind - unfailingly kind - as you will see by comparing verse 4 with verse 8.
Love never compares itself with others (II Corinthians 10:12) so that it is never envious (jealous), never vaunts itself (boasts) to get self acclaim.
It is never puffed up (arrogant, self-important). Such puffed-up ego only shows, that you have compared yourself with others and found them beneath you. Goodwill - will never behave itself unseemly (unpleasantly, unbecomingly). Phillipians 4:8 also adds information on the pleasant things we should do instead: "Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, what ever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy meditate on these things."
True love seeks not its own - is not self-centered, not carnal (1 Corinthians I3:5).
It is not easily provoked (aroused to anger).
It thinks no evil - does not dwell on the ugly, wicked side of others behavior, nor is resentful OR bitter!
And it never rejoices in hearing or seeing iniquity. Instead, it rejoices in truth in wholesomeness (verse 6). If a person belittles or insults you, real love never causes you to rail back, but it bears all things (forbears in all provocations). It never inflicts harm for harm, evil for evil or insult for insult.
This agape believes, the best in all matters. It does not show unpleasantness and ill-will by doubting or causing dissent, but hopes for the best in all things - is not negative!
God's Love Endures all things. Trials unpleasant episodes, differences of opinion, misunderstandings do not send it off in a corner to mope or to turn away in bitterness. It does not lose friends over them. It does not give up. It never fails! When everything else has failed, true love - .genuine goodwill and outgoing concern for others will still be going strong.
Jesus Christ's example while On the cross ,is the one we should strive to follow. He said of all His scowling, bloodthirsty, hate filled tormentors, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (Luke 23:34).
Can you still be a friend to those who hate you? Can you still have goodwill toward them? Can you still be concerned for their welfare?
You must, you know! And, you must come to have it habitually and consistently.
How to have True Love
If you want to live and act in love and goodwill, go to the author of all that is good. Ask Him prayerfully to give you this attitude and show you the way. Expect Him to answer and to keep on, giving it to you us long us you are trying to give up your old. self-centeredness and striving to " live God's way".
Then follow God's biblical instructions on how to behave toward others in love and goodwill.-Live by the Laws of love.
Your selfish human nature has always had its way in the past and will continue to crop up so you must continue to resist self-will while you step out in faith to do God's will. - "goodwill".
Like a baby's first steps, your first attempts may not be very skillful. You may stumble, you may even fall. But dust yourself off, ask forgiveness and try sgain and again, until you habitually come to have goodwill - God's will towards all people. .
Romans 13:8-9, says: "Owe no man anything, except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandment, "You shall not commit adultery.' 'You shall not murder' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' 'You shall not covet,' and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, 'You shall love your neighbor, as yourself."
It takes work to be, outgoing. You won't even think to do it without effort, and it won't be successful even then if you don't stay close to God. This also takes effort of will and energy.
Yet this love is absolutely required by God. It is a wonderful thing to have. No one will enter His Kingdom without it (Matthew 25:3l-46).
Now is. The time to "marshal your energy" to make certain you have God's great love. Develop it and radiate it all the rest of your life. The time is short. It is later than you think.
Reprinted from an article by Jack H. Elliott in the Jume 1984 Good News Magazine
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Brought to you as a Study Resource by the
Church of God Faithful Flock
Every human being is just naturally interested in his or her own things.
He knows nothing else!
He is interested in his own pleasure. His own happiness. His own profit, His own importance. Charm, Effectiveness, Success, Friends, who mean a lot to him.
Often, He is concerned for others only when he is reminded that he should be, and then it is because doing, nice things makes him feel like a better person. A small sacrifice or a charitable act becomes a means of self exaltation, TO do something nice for others makes him feel good, and makes others admire him.
Yet, in his own mind he thinks he has "love." Truly, as God's Word tells us, man's heart is deceptive above all things and desperately wicked( Jeremiah 7:9).
A Loveless Generation
One of the saddest commentaries of our time is the lack of genuine love and concern for other members of the human race.
Almost everyone suffers from the loneliness of being shut out from the thoughts and actions of others.
Loneliness has come to be a major problem in our modern way of life, it has probably been the cause of more delinquency, destructive acts and desperate behavior than any other single factor.
As Norman Roston wrote in the article "The Ones - Who Wait" published several years ago in The Saturday Evening Post,"you can see them (the unloved) in the city or town, men or women, the young and the old, gathering in the late afternoon or evenings, strolling in the streets, or wandering through stores or in the parks, or sitting on park benches or heading for bars. They are in search of others, the unnamed, the yet to be found, the hour-long or night long companions. And the numberless unseen who merely wait alone in separate rooms, in small desperate rooms, their, hope behind, accepting defeat. These are the ones who have somehow missed the miracle. Passed by while others were chosen."
"Perhaps the saddest of these are the aged and ill, betrayed by the world, forgotten by kin. The living turn cruelly and irrevocably away from the dying. And love, the root of life, withers."
"'I don't know why they're keeping me alive,' said the man in the sun tilled ward in the hospital, his hands flat upon the sheet his head turned toward the window where the sun danced. I'm not going anywhere if I get better. I've got a sister living in California, but she hasn't written for years, and I never hear from my daughters. No one visit's me now except a nun sometimes, who is very nice, but I don't even know her name. It doesn't mean anything."
"It is not merely a matter of age. The loveless exist wherever life may be. They are the obviously scarred or the seemingly well, the wounded with the scar hidden, they are married or single, in and out of careers, in and out of marital beds or motel adventures, all touched by that, shadow of having been denied, forgotten, unblessed."
This is a pitiful, sad commentary on real life! Perhaps you feel that you are being left out of the affection and concern of others.
But what are you doing for others? How about you? Do you have any loved ones going hungry for a word of encouragement, a note or visit that says you care about them?
Truly, outgoing love is in desperately short supply in this generation. If you and I are not careful, we will fall right into the trap that so many people without any knowledge of God's truth are in. But if we will begin to exercise outgoing concern ourselves, our own loneliness will evaporate.
Even though this godless generation makes goodwill diilicult, it is still necessary for human happiness. Life without personal warmth and goodwill is not real living.
Love Absolutely Necessary
People need to see a smile and receive a cheery greeting that some how conveys interest in their welfare, with a willingness to stop and help when necessary. Such love is a vital part of any happy society.
And it will be a prominent, personal, daily quality in God's Kingdom. Those of us who are able to see that outgoing love is, a part of God's way of life, and who have chosen to come out of this world and to learn and practice God's way, may not excuse ourselves from having and practicing outgoing love and concern for others. It is an absolute requirement for any who expect to enter His Kingdom.
Those who have not demonstrated genuine outgoing concern for others in their daily lives will not enter at all (Matthew 25:31-4)!
To those who do not aid the stranger, the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the sick and the confined, Jesus Christ will say, "Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels."
True love is so important that Almighty God warns those without it that they are as worthless as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal (1 Corinthians 13:1).
A personality devoid of outgoing love is a sick personality! It is unpleasant, unwholesome and ineffective.
On the other hand, an outgoing personality adds immeasurably to health, happiness and prosperity. It is a delight to everyone, and it will certainly make the lives of those around much brighter and more worthwhile.
The apostle Paul, wrote: "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing" (I Corinthians 13:1-2).
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This knowledge comes only from, the Bible, and understanding Comes from God's Holy Spirit, which no one possesses naturally.
Without God's Holy Spirit, the only genuine interest we have is self-interest. Unconverted people are interested, in others only in relation to what others mean to them - what they get in return.
Since this world's advisers are without God's Spirit, their writings or examples unwittingly advocate "putting it on" in order to receive. But giving in order to receive is not goodwill. It is pursuing self-profit.
All of us have heard about love and goodwill from people who don't really understand it. We have seen others' examples of what it is supposed to be, but We have received wrong information. Right Knowledge was simply not available because of a lack of spiritual understanding.
Some Are Asleep
Yet even some who have been baptized, have God's Spirit, know God's plan and hope to enter God's Kingdom lack this outgoing love. They just don't think about others. Their fruitless lives make it obvious that they do not actively care for others. They intend to do right. They often think to do good works, yet seldom get around to actually doing them. They try to be nice they often say and do pleasant things They try to be fair.
Yet, no one is benefited. No one's life is being changed. No one's hope is lifted up. No happiness is radiated to others. No joy is spread,. Instead, they are forced to rationalize, defend themselves, argue or retreat. This kind of behavior falls far short of truly outgoing love.
In fact, it is, not love at all.it is merely living up to what we feel is required of us. It is a person's way of demanding credit for being nice. It is selfish.
Goodwill or true outgoing love must come from a Spirit-led heart, Even though the heart of man is not naturally inclined to love his fellows, through God's help we can change.
And there is a lot we must do ourselves.
What can we do?
The formula for receiving God's Holy Spirit is given by the Apostle Peter in Acts 2:38.
Peter said to those pricked in the heart and wanting to do something about their condition: "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Repentance means turning 'from your human way of self-centeredness And pursuing God's way. It means repenting of breaking. God's law. and setting your will to obey from here on.
God will then give you His Holy Spirit, a spirit of a sound mind -- wisdom by which you can intelligently love and consider others. You cannot work up goodwill by yourself.
To act like you have is to be false. Any act, no matter how good; is eventually discovered to be just that - acting.
On the other hand; when we receive God's Holy Spirit we do. not just automatically and mysteriously become perfect. We work toward perfection with much effort on our part using the Spirit God gives us.
God's Spirit opens our minds to realize the importance of others in our lifes and our importance in theirs. The goodwill we give and receive is a vital commodity. We come to realize that fellowship of kindred spirits is most beautiful. God's Spirit also gives us the assurance that this harmonious love and goodwill is worth working for.
If you would like to know more about this vital key, to true outgoing love, write for our free reprint "How You Can Be Imbued with the Power of God" See the middle front cover for the address nearest you.
Your part
Outgoing love requires work along with willpower and determination. It is an uphill pull: because human nature is not natrally outgoing.
Human nature, as influenced by Satan the devil, the "Prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians 2:2) is selfish.. To be outgoing in love cuts against the grain of what we have been absorbing through Satan's influence all our lives.
Wisdom to try - wisdom to correctly guide your efforts - wisdom to keep trying in spite of all adversity, wisdom to discern God's will - is an absolute necessity in learning to exercise true love.
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If any of you lacks wisdom let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him But let him ask in faith, with no "doubting" (James1: 5-6).
In faith, you must stand unwaveringly on your trust and conviction.
In hope, you guide your action expecting to receive the desire you have set your heart on. This hope adds the spiritual motivation to go forward. In love, you must act with un-selfishness, with initiative and genuine concern for everyone.
These three important ingredients are added to your gilt of wisdom through effort on your part they are all important, but the most important, and the one that takes most effort, is love. (I Corinthians I3:13)
Love and Godly Character
This what life is all about. This is how you have your part in your own salvation.
This process of creating Godly Character in us is God's plan of creating children. It is His doing, but we also have our part. Besides our willpower and determination, it takes our resourcefulness, perseverance and drive.
It requires breaking old habits - habits of thinking and acting selfishly. It then requires building new habits - habits of thinking and acting in outgoing love. The old habits are deeply ingrained, just as the new habits must become deeply ingrained if they are to become part of us.
To build a habit .you must do a thing over and over until it becomes automatic behavior. It has been said that we are want we habitually are, and you become godlike when you become habitually and consistently godlike.
God is love and He acts habitually 'and consistently in outgoing love. That is what we are learning to do through HIS Holy Spirit. The basic laws of God are given for the 'purpose of developing godly love and goodwill. They are laws of love (I John 4:8).
The meaning
I Corinthians 13 makes it clear what true love is. The word translated charity in the Authorized Version does not mean "giving to the poor." Verse 3 clearly demonstrates that - read it yourself.
The Greek word translated "charity" is agape, not Phileo which is more commonly used, to denote emotional love. Agape and Phileo have similar meanings, but Phileo "Comes chiefly from the heart," explains Strong's Exhaustive Concordance while agape "comes from the head." It means to think and act toward others with genuine concern and tenderness. It means having goodwill -feeling it deeply but intelligently.
While either word can be translated "love," the Authorized Version translators used "charity"to distinguish this intelligent, heartfelt concern (outgoing love or goodwill) from the kind of emotion that the word love conveys to the average person.
What True Love is Like
Verse 4 shows that this agape, this intelligent outgoing love or goodwill, is always patient with others, suffering long with any grievance received from them.
It is kind - unfailingly kind - as you will see by comparing verse 4 with verse 8.
Love never compares itself with others (II Corinthians 10:12) so that it is never envious (jealous), never vaunts itself (boasts) to get self acclaim.
It is never puffed up (arrogant, self-important). Such puffed-up ego only shows, that you have compared yourself with others and found them beneath you. Goodwill - will never behave itself unseemly (unpleasantly, unbecomingly). Phillipians 4:8 also adds information on the pleasant things we should do instead: "Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, what ever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy meditate on these things."
True love seeks not its own - is not self-centered, not carnal (1 Corinthians I3:5).
It is not easily provoked (aroused to anger).
It thinks no evil - does not dwell on the ugly, wicked side of others behavior, nor is resentful OR bitter!
And it never rejoices in hearing or seeing iniquity. Instead, it rejoices in truth in wholesomeness (verse 6). If a person belittles or insults you, real love never causes you to rail back, but it bears all things (forbears in all provocations). It never inflicts harm for harm, evil for evil or insult for insult.
This agape believes, the best in all matters. It does not show unpleasantness and ill-will by doubting or causing dissent, but hopes for the best in all things - is not negative!
God's Love Endures all things. Trials unpleasant episodes, differences of opinion, misunderstandings do not send it off in a corner to mope or to turn away in bitterness. It does not lose friends over them. It does not give up. It never fails! When everything else has failed, true love - .genuine goodwill and outgoing concern for others will still be going strong.
Jesus Christ's example while On the cross ,is the one we should strive to follow. He said of all His scowling, bloodthirsty, hate filled tormentors, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (Luke 23:34).
Can you still be a friend to those who hate you? Can you still have goodwill toward them? Can you still be concerned for their welfare?
You must, you know! And, you must come to have it habitually and consistently.
How to have True Love
If you want to live and act in love and goodwill, go to the author of all that is good. Ask Him prayerfully to give you this attitude and show you the way. Expect Him to answer and to keep on, giving it to you us long us you are trying to give up your old. self-centeredness and striving to " live God's way".
Then follow God's biblical instructions on how to behave toward others in love and goodwill.-Live by the Laws of love.
Your selfish human nature has always had its way in the past and will continue to crop up so you must continue to resist self-will while you step out in faith to do God's will. - "goodwill".
Like a baby's first steps, your first attempts may not be very skillful. You may stumble, you may even fall. But dust yourself off, ask forgiveness and try sgain and again, until you habitually come to have goodwill - God's will towards all people. .
Romans 13:8-9, says: "Owe no man anything, except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandment, "You shall not commit adultery.' 'You shall not murder' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' 'You shall not covet,' and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, 'You shall love your neighbor, as yourself."
It takes work to be, outgoing. You won't even think to do it without effort, and it won't be successful even then if you don't stay close to God. This also takes effort of will and energy.
Yet this love is absolutely required by God. It is a wonderful thing to have. No one will enter His Kingdom without it (Matthew 25:3l-46).
Now is. The time to "marshal your energy" to make certain you have God's great love. Develop it and radiate it all the rest of your life. The time is short. It is later than you think.
Reprinted from an article by Jack H. Elliott in the Jume 1984 Good News Magazine
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