A PROPER ATTITUDE

From My Perspective - - -

The importance of having and maintaining a right attitude cannot be denied or debated. One will face the challenges of life with either a positive or negative attitude. If one’s attitude is positive, the prospect of success is considerable. However, if one’s attitude is negative, there is little possibility that one will experience anything other than failures.

The motivational speaker, Zig Ziglar, is known to have said: “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” Part of what is being stated is to gain an understanding of what these components are. Attitude is: “the way one thinks about things. One can have either a positive or a negative attitude for instance.” In terms of Aptitude: “it is a talent (or giftedness) one has for something.” For instance, a Linguist is one who has “an aptitude for languages” and that enables him/her to learn them faster and better than one with a lesser aptitude. The area of Altitude refers to how successful one can be and the number of goals one will achieve.

The writer, Gian Fiero, states: “More employers are reporting that college graduates are entering the workforce with an ‘Attitude of Entitlement.’ They want the six figure salary, 4 weeks of vacation, and a corner office before they prove or accomplish anything.” He goes on to write in his report – “Attitude & Aptitude - Keys to Your Success” – the following: “A random sampling of companies that offer internships/apprentice positions reveals that they prefer neophytes to be long on inquisitiveness, and short on haughtiness. A counter-productive attitude gets in the way of learning, and building relationships. Employers may become easily enamored with potential and credentials, but a positive ‘can-do’ attitude is often listed at the top of employee characteristics that employers value. So much so, that employers state that they will take a less qualified candidate with a great attitude who shows promise to be a good fit, over a candidate who is more qualified (one who has greater credentials on paper).”

 

How does the Zig Ziglar point on Attitude, Aptitude and Altitude apply to the Christian Commitment and lifestyle? Does one’s attitude matter? Or – is aptitude the most important quality? Will either of these determine the altitude one will gain? It is encouraging to observe those whom Jesus chose to use in His Kingdom work. In Matthew 4:18-22, Jesus begins calling those with whom He would minister – and later – entrust with the work of His earthly ministry. Were they the most schooled and learned of their day? No! Note what Jesus saw and did: “As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. Come, follow me…and I will make you fishers of men. At once they left their nets and followed him.” The two key points: (1) Jesus will make these men into what He wants them to be – fearless servants; and (b) The readiness and necessity to forsake all and Follow Him.

 

As the Church continues in its growth and development, the Apostle Paul writes and reminds those who comprise the emerging Church, Philippians 2:3-8, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!” The thrust is that – “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…” If it is, even though your aptitude may not be at the zenith of the skill curve, Jesus Christ finds you as teachable and usable. He will make you into what He wants you to be – and – you will be enabled to reach heights you never imagined were possible. Follow Him - He will  lead you to the places where He wants you to be! Consider these things with me!