LUKE 10:38-42

“Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about

many things” (v. 41)• Not a bad person

• Not immoral

• Not lacking in love for the Lord• Bothered (NASV) – many things

• Distracted – thus struggledWe, like Martha, struggle with many things!

Evidence: Every one of us have had a bad attitude toward

someone – sometime!Every Christian has an “attitude” toward others

May be good & right

May be bad & wrong

Attitudes form the basis on how we treat them

Matthew 15:19 – actions - from the heart

STRUGGLES WITH BAD ATTITUDES

Evidence: Every one of us have had a bad attitude toward

someone – sometime!

WHO

WHY

WHAT

HOW

STRUGGLES WITH BAD ATTITUDES

Evidence: Every one of us have had a bad attitude toward

someone – sometime!

WHO—Bears Responsibility

STRUGGLES WITH BAD ATTITUDES

I. WHO – Bears Responsibility

COMMON PROBLEM:

Often think that others should have the right attitude toward us,

but we do little thinking about whether we have the right attitude toward

others

Romans 12:18

“If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”

A. Do your part1. Work hard toward a good

relationship

2. Try – requires effort on your part

3. Make sure that no one can blame you

4. Required by any passage on relationships

5. May require a change in attitude

I. Who – Bears Responsibility

Romans 12:18

“If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”

A. Do your part

B. Even if others don’t or won’t1. Do not say “as much as depends

on them”

2. You are to see “if it is possible” to get along

3. We must take the “high road”

I. Who – Bears Responsibility

Evidence: Every one of us have had a bad attitude toward

someone – sometime!

WHO—Bears Responsibility

WHY—Dangers Involved

STRUGGLES WITH BAD ATTITUDES

Galatians 6:10

“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

A. To be right1. Treat others right—so we will be

right

2. Not because they are “right”

I. Why – Dangers Involved

Matthew 7:12

“Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is

the Law and the Prophets.”

A. To be right

B. One sin breeds another1. Sin has the tendency to compound

(2 Timothy 3:13)

2. Colossians 3:5-9—sins listed have breeding effect

I. Why – Dangers Involved

SINS MULTIPLYING

COLOSSIANS 3:5

“Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness,

which is idolatry.”

SINS MULTIPLYING

COLOSSIANS 3:6,7

“Because of these things the wrath of God is coming

upon the sons of disobedience,

in which you yourselves once walked when you

lived in them…”

SINS MULTIPLYING

COLOSSIANS 3:8,9

“But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice,

blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.

Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds.”

Colossians 3:5-9

Desire Uncleanness Fornication

Anger Wrath Malice Blasphemy

Proverbs 23:7

“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. "Eat and drink!" he says to you, But his

heart is not with you.”

A. To be right

B. One sin breeds another1. Sin has the tendency to compound

(2 Timothy 3:13)

2. Colossians 3:5-9—sins listed have breeding effect

3. Attitudes lead to actions:

I. Why – Dangers Involved

Attitude Leads To Action

ATTITUDE

ActionProduces

• Evil comes from heart

(Matthew 15:19)

• Lust leads to adultery

(Matthew 5:28)

• Hate leads to murder

(1 John 3:15)

A. To be right

B. One sin breeds another

C. Attitudes can be sinful

I. Why – Dangers Involved

Homosexuality (vv. 26-27)

Sexual immorality (v. 29)

Murder (v. 29)Haters of God (v. 30)

Covetousness (v. 29)Maliciousness (v. 29)

Envy (v. 29)Proud (v. 30)

Boasters (v. 30)Undiscerning (v. 31)Untrustworthy (v. 31)

Unloving (v. 31)Unforgiving (v. 31)Unmerciful (v. 31)

Romans 1:26-32

“Terribly Sinful” Attitude

Uncleanness (v. 21)Fornication (v. 21)Lewdness (v. 21)

Jealousies (v. 20)Selfish ambitions (v. 20)

Conceit (v. 20)

2 Corinthians 12:20-21

“Terribly Sinful” Attitude

Adultery (v. 19)Fornication (v. 19)Lewdness (v. 19)Idolatry (v. 20)Murders (v. 21)

Drunkenness (v. 21)

Hatred (v. 20)Jealousies (v. 20)

Selfish ambitions (v. 20)Envy (v. 21)

Galatians 5:19-21

“Terribly Sinful” Attitude

Blasphemers (v. 2)Slanderers (v. 3)

Brutal (v. 3)Love pleasure – not God

(v.4)

Boasters (v. 2)Proud (v. 2)

Unthankful (v. 2)Unloving (v. 3)

Unforgiving (v. 3)Headstrong (v. 4)

Haughty (v. 4)

2 Timothy 3:1-5

“Terribly Sinful” Attitude

A. To be right

B. One sin breeds another

C. Attitudes can be sinful

D. Could deceive self—thinking I’m taking a strong stand 1. 2 Corinthians 2:11—Seems like really taking a stand—while others are being “soft and tolerant” about it.2. May be that “my stand” is a tool of Satan!3. Example: Disagree with judgment—treat as sin!

I. Why – Dangers Involved

A. To be right

B. One sin breeds another

C. Attitudes can be sinful

D. Could deceive self—thinking I’m taking a strong stand

E. Could “hate” others—not realize it

1. Hate=lack of love (despise)

a. 1 John 3:15b. Compare: Matthew 10:37—Luke

14:26,272. If I have a bad attitude—could “hate”

others

I. Why – Dangers Involved

A. To be right

B. One sin breeds another

C. Attitudes can be sinful

D. Could deceive self—thinking I’m taking a strong stand

E. Could “hate” others—not realize it

F. Could lose my soul!

1. Galatians 5:19-21—attitudes can cause one to be lost

2. 2 Corinthians 12:20—Some will lose their souls over improper attitudes.

I. Why – Dangers Involved

WHO—Bears Responsibility

WHY—Dangers Involved

WHAT—Attitudes to Overcome

STRUGGLES WITH BAD ATTITUDES

III. What – Attitudes to Overcome

A. Pride / Arrogance1. Expressed in several ways:

“Holier than thou” Look down at others – inferior (Money,

Social standing, Education, Nationality, etc. )

2. Matthew 18:1-53. Romans 12:3, 164. Philippians 2:1-45. Ephesians 4: 2

III. What – Attitudes to Overcome

A. Pride/ArroganceB. Hate/Disdain

1. Means Despise—have disgust for a person(s) Lacking love (1 John 3:15)

2. Matthew 5:21-26

III. What – Attitudes to Overcome

A. Pride / ArroganceB. Hate/ DisdainC. Bitterness1. Means

Closely kin to “hatred” Opposed to love (Colossians 3:19)

2. Luke 15:25ff—elder son was bitter

III. What – Attitudes to Overcome

A. Pride / ArroganceB. Hate/ DisdainC. BitternessD. Unconcerned/Uncaring

1. Means Not really concerned/care about others;

their feelings, their needs, their situation…

(Romans 12:15)2. Matthew 7:12—seek proper care

THE GOLDEN RULEMatthew 7:12

• Golden Rule Says: Treat others the way you want to be treated

• Means: “…we are as much obliged to them as they are to us” - Matthew Henry

• Forces Us To Think About:E Way I want to be treatedE Way I treat OthersE Compare the twoE More than how others treat me!

III. What – Attitudes to Overcome

A. Pride / ArroganceB. Hate/ DisdainC. BitternessD. Unconcerned/UncaringE. Jump to Conclusions

1. Means Too often—draw conclusions without

evidence (1 Corinthians 13:7)

2. —Love believes all things…

GIVE THE BENEFIT OF DOUBT

1 Corinthians 13:7• Put best construction on matters¨ “Is ever ready to believe the best of every

person, and will credit no evil of any but on the most positive evidence...” A. Clarke

¨ Proverbs 14:15

• Don’t jump to conclusions¨ All too often we fill in gaps that are not there

¨ Proverbs 18:13¨ Proverbs 29:20

III. What – Attitudes to Overcome

A. Pride / ArroganceB. Hate/ DisdainC. BitternessD. Unconcerned/UncaringE. Jump to ConclusionsF. Impatient

1. Means Not willing to “bear with” things we don’t

like in others (Ephesians 4:2)

2. —Lack longsuffering…

LONGSUFFERING

Ephesians 4:2

• Literally: Suffer Long• Patient - Exercise restraint• Suggest - Collision of opinions, differing

“No virtue, perhaps, is more frequently demanded in our intercourse with others. We do not go far with any fellow traveler on the journey of life before we find there is great occasion for its exercise. He has a temperament different from our own.”

- Barnes

“He has his own plans and purposes of life, and his own way and time of doing things. He may be naturally irritable, or he may have been so trained that his modes of speech and conduct differ much from ours.”

- Barnes

“We must indulge the friend that we love in the little peculiarities of saying and doing things which may be important to him, but which may be of little moment to us.”

- Barnes

• Literally: Suffer Long• Patient - exercise restraint.• Suggest - Collision of opinions, differing• Time for tolerance

“taking whatever comes, putting up with one another in love” -

BBE

LONGSUFFERING

Ephesians 4:2

III. What – Attitudes to Overcome

A. Pride/ArroganceB. Hate/DisdainC. BitternessD. Unconcerned/UncaringE. Jump to ConclusionsF. ImpatientG. Stubbornness

1. Means Refusal to look at self, change, or look for

solutions (1 Samuel 15:23)—characteristics is

sin2. Luke 18:9-14 (Pharisee/Publican)…3. Judges 2:19—do what we want!

WHO—Bears Responsibility

WHY—Dangers Involved

WHAT—Attitudes to Overcome

HOW—To Overcome

STRUGGLES WITH BAD ATTITUDES

IV. HOW – To Overcome

A. “I Must”1.If I don’t – Lose my soul2.If I don’t – May get worse3.Can’t continue to say, “I just can’t

help it…”

IV. HOW – To Overcome

A. “I Must”B. “I Can”

1.Not impossible—not that hard2. The Word is the answer—

2 Timothy 3:1-5,8,16,17

Rejected Return

Vv. 1-5 – [The

Problem]

V. 8 – [The Reason]

Vv. 16-17 – [The

Answer]

IV. HOW – To Overcome

A. “I Must”B. “I Can”

1.Not impossible—not that hard2. The Word is the answer—

2 Timothy 3:1-5,8,16,17

3. Philippians 4:13—I can do what God expects

IV. HOW – To Overcome

A. “I Must”B. “I Can”C. “I Will”

1.Not: “I’ll try, but not sure I can.”2. Determination says, “I CAN.”—

Hebrews 6:3

WHO—Bears Responsibility

WHY—Dangers Involved

WHAT—Attitudes to Overcome

HOW—To Overcome

STRUGGLES WITH BAD ATTITUDES