TEXT:  Prov. 23:7

INTRODUCTION:

A.      WORD "ATTITUDE" NOT IN BIBLE, BUT HAVING RIGHT ONE A MUST.

B.      DEFINED:  "ONE'S DISPOSITION, OPINION, MENTAL SET."

C.      SEEN IN WHAT WE SAY AND DO( Luke 6:43-45;  Prov. 23:7 ).

D.      WE MUST HAVE A PROPER ATTITUDE:

I.     TOWARD SELF.

A.      WHO ARE WE?

          1.       In relation to the Universe?  Time?

          2.       Do these depend on us to continue?

B.      MAN IS GOD'S CREATION( Acts 17:26 ),  DOES HE NEED US?( vs. 24-25 ).

C.      IS ONE INDIVIDUAL MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANOTHER?

( Rom. 2:11; 1 Tim. 2:4 ).

D.      THIS IS TRUE IN THE CHURCH, ALSO( 1 Cor. 12:21-22 ).

E.      THOSE WHO CONSIDER THEMSELVES RIGHTEOUS OR WISE  BEWARE!

 ( 1 Cor. 10:12;  1 Cor. 3:18 ).

F.      WITH GOD MAN CAN DO ALL ( Phil. 4:13 ).  WITHOUT HIM...?

G.      WE MUST SEE OURSELVES AS WE ARE ( Rom. 12:3 ). 

ONLY THEN WILL WE TURN TO GOD FOR HELP.

II.     TOWARD MATERIAL THINGS.

A.      THEY ARE NOT NECESSARY FOR HAPPINESS ( Phil. 4:11 ).

B.      MATERIAL THINGS OFTEN THE SOURCE OF SORROW ( 1 Tim. 6:10 ).

C.      MATERIAL THINGS ARE AT BEST TEMPORARY (Matt. 6:19-21).

D.      NOTHING THAT WE CAN ACCUMULATE WHILE HERE ON

          EARTH WILL HELP US IN JUDGMENT ( 1 Tim. 6:7 ).

E.      THE PURSUIT OF MATERIAL THINGS MAY EVEN HURT US

          ( Matt. 6:24;  1 Tim. 6:9 ).

F.      THIS PURSUIT MUST BE KEPT IN PERSPECTIVE ( Matt. 6:33;  Jas. 1:17 ).

G.      IN FACT, WE ARE TO USE THESE THINGS TO GOD'S GLORY

          ( Luke 16:9 ).  IN THIS MATERIAL THINGS SERVE US, NOT US THEM.

III.   TOWARD OTHER PEOPLE.

A.      CONSIDER THE COMMAND OF THE LORD( Luke 10:27 ).

          1.       Who is my neighbor? Jesus chooses the least likely person for this lawyer of

                    the Jews to love, a Samaritan, and says, "He's your neighbor, love him."

          2.       ( 1 John 4:20-21;  Matt. 5:43-44 ).

B.      LOVE MUST BE ACTIVE IN US(1 John 3:17-18;  1 Cor. 13:4-7).

IV.  TOWARD GOD.

A.      GOD IS OUR CREATOR, BUT HE IS ALSO A LOVING FATHER(James 1:17).

B.      GOD KNOWS OUR NEEDS AND CARES FOR US ( Mat. 6:8;  1 Pet. 5:7 ).

C.      HE LOVED US ENOUGH TO SEND JESUS( John 3:16 ).

D.      IT IS TRUE THAT GOD SHOULD BE APPROACHED WITH RESPECT

          ( Heb. 10:31;  12:28-29 ).

E.      BUT HE MAY BE APPROACHED WITH CONFIDENCE( Heb. 4:15-16 ).

F.      GOD MUST BE RESPECTED AND OBEYED( Matt. 10:28;  7:21 )

G.      HIS LOVE, GOODNESS MOTIVATES US TO LOVE HIM IN RETURN

          ( Matt. 22:37 ).

H.      LOVE WILL RESULT IN A LIFE OF SERVICE( John 14:15 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      WHAT I WOULDN'T GIVE IF I COULD INSTILL IN THOSE I LOVE THE

          PROPER ATTITUDES TO GUIDE AND CONTROL OUR LIVES.

B.      WHAT ABOUT YOUR ATTITUDE?