Heart Attitude No. 1

Heart Attitude #1: I will put the goals and interests of others above my own.

Sure you will.

Ever have a default setting change on your computer? Somehow it gets stuck printing landscape instead of portrait, or prints out 53 copies before you realize it instead of one. Worst of all it defaults to the blue screen of death instead of windows. AAGGGHH!! You Mac users wouldn't understand.

Jesus said the greatest commandments are to love God and others. Right - how do we do that? How do we know if we have loved God and others? If we think we are doing well, would our co-workers agree? Our spouse? Our…

A Heart Attitude is an internal default setting we develop in order to put love into practice. It gives us a way to measure how we have done, are doing, and where we are going. We don’t always like them, but we at Cottonwood agree to work towards them.

The first Heart Attitude pretty much encompasses them all. It says, “I will put the goals and interests of others above my own.” Well, sometimes. And...

Even if you wanted to - could you? If I always looked after others, how would you live own life?

Truth is, we have to care about our own lives if we care about others. Suicide is one of the most selfish acts possible. We need to take care of ourselves if we care about those who depend on us.

When the Philippians were caught in a selfish mess, here is what Paul wrote about Heart Attitude #1…

Php 2:5 (NLT) You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. 9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. 14 Do everything without complaining and arguing…,

In-your-face Paul made it clear. It's not about me.

Dan