A Right Attitude.

11. A Right Attitude.

"And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted." -Matthew 23:12

Again we are told that we have the right to make our own choice.  Here centers one of the main problems in churches as well as individual lives today.  Sometimes you will find in a church someone trying to "play the role" of pastor or occupy the position "ex officio."  They are the church's "bully" and seem to want everyone to look upon them as the "big cheese" of the church.  These are they who are filled with pride.  They are the "Diotrephes" of the church - 3 John 1:9-10.

God says that He will exalt those who humble themselves.  God loves a humble person.  The person who many times will avoid an argument.  That person is not trying to "show off" in the church, but realizes they are what they are by the grace of God.

Notice--the choice is ours.  "Whosoever" will humble himself, God will exalt.  Christians do have a choice as to how they are going to act concerning their pride.  "Whosoever" tells us that we have the right to make that choice ourselves.  Allow me to ask you what is your attitude toward your position in the church?  What is your attitude toward your pastor, toward other people and toward yourself?  Have you tried to exalt yourself?  Have you humbled yourself, realizing you are what you are by the grace of God?

I would not want to be a machine with God controlling my mind so that I would not have a free will to use as God created it.  It is very clear that we stand responsible for our own actions and behavior, whether we exalt ourselves or humble ourselves in the sight of God.