The Right Attitude

The Right Attitude

I THEREFORE, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to and beg you to walk (lead a life) worthy of the [divine] calling to which you have been called [with behavior that is a credit to the summons to God's service, Living as becomes you] with complete lowliness of mind (humility) and meekness (unselfishness, gentleness, mildness), with patience, bearing with one another and making allowances because you love one another. Be eager and strive earnestly to guard and keep the harmony and oneness of [and produced by] the Spirit in the binding power of peace.
Ephesians 4:1-3 AMP

Having the right attitude starts with understanding that life is not a competition with anyone. God has called each of us to run a race; he didn't call two of us together into one race, he called each one into his or her own race. Our paths may meet and we go along together for a while, but unless we are married, we are bound to part sometime in the future. Even a husband and wife have different races, different purposes but are united together by God to raise Godly offspring, enjoy companionship and find fulfilment in God.

Even while running the race, there is a right approach and a wrong approach. You could get your race and purpose right, but if you do not get the attitude right, you may end up all frustrated and eternally lost. When I begin to think my race is more important than the other person, when I think I am better than the other man, when I lose commitment due to external pressures, and give in to fear or unhealthy rivalry, when I compare my experiences with the other man and wish I was running his own race, then there is a problem.

The central theme here is: live a life worthy of the call you have received. If you have not received the call from God, go back to God. If you have heeded another person's call, retrace your steps back to God and find out his call. When you have now heeded God's call, spend your life living in line with the dictates of that call. God's rewards are not tied to activity, but to purpose. Find purpose, you will find a reason for living. His time of favour is here.