Attitudes can be helpful and they can be dangerous. As a Christian, one should seek to have the attitude of Christ (Phil. 2:5ff). This means one must pay attention to how they look at themselves and at others.
One needs to be careful in how they see themselves. A person can let their ego get the get the best of them. Paul wrote a warning concerning attitude: “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office” (Rom. 12:3, 4).
Again in the letter to the Galatians, he said, “For if a man thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself ” (Gal. 6:3). Those who manifest this attitude do not show forth the attitude of the Lord. This attitude seen in Christians surely warms the heart of Satan.
Attitudes toward enemies should be guarded. Jesus said, “But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you;” (Matt. 5:44).
Jesus was saying to seek good for all, even enemies. Failure to do this can lead one to sin. Paul taught how to deal with enemies (Rom. 12:19- 21). This way of dealing with enemies is foreign to the world but should be a standard in the lives of Christians.
Christians must be careful in the attitude they have toward all. Being human means there will be differences between people on occasion. This is seen in God’s word several times. The herdsmen of Abraham and Lot had problems, Paul and Barnabas had problems, even Peter and Paul had differences. The world’s answer to differences between people many times is malice, bitterness, lack of a forgiving spirit, fault-finding, etc. God does not want His children acting like the world, in any matter!
Paul wrote some great advice about anger (Eph. 4:26). One must not hold grudges against others, especially Christians. These attitudes can and do affect worship to God (Matt. 5:23, 24).
In Paul’s description of love, he spoke of the attitude Christians should have in dealing with each other especially. “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is noteasily provoked, thinketh no evil;” (1 Cor. 13:4-5). Christians must be able to bear some things, talk out problems and work together in love for each other and the Lord.
Christians must also have the proper attitude toward God. Some think that God does not mean what he says. They must have forgotten that God cannot lie (Titus1:2). God has promised man that heaven awaits all who will obey him. He has provided the means for man’s justification – the giving of Christ on Golgotha’s cross. He has given man his word to read and study so that they are not left to guess what is pleasing to God.
God wants all men to be saved, “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:3, 4). Many in the world are indifferent to God and his teachings. This is a very dangerous attitude.
Another attitude toward God that is extremely dangerous is that of not trusting in him. This attitude can lead Christians away from God, though they believe they are faithful followers. One must realize that God expects one to do all they can for themselves, but there comes a time when they must leave (whatever the situation) things to God.
All need to study and obey God, remembering to put their trust in God.