Stations of Life: Attitude
(Colossians 3:20-25)
1. A passenger jet was suffering through a severe thunderstorm. As the passengers were being bounced around by the turbulence, a young woman turned to an evangelist sitting next to her and asked, "Sir, you are a man of God, can't you do something about this storm?"
To which he replied, "Lady, I'm in sales, not management...." [altered from haruth.com]
2. Our stations in life are specialized, too. Last week we discussed husbands and wives, today children, parents, and slaves.
3. Sometimes things get mixed up, and children rule.
• A New Jersey senior is suing her parents for support and college tuition, claiming they kicked her out of the house.
• Rachel Canning’s parents though say she left their home last year of her own accord, not wanting to follow their rules, which included keeping a curfew, doing some chores and reconsidering a boyfriend relationship they disagreed with.
• As a result they stopped paying her private school tuition and took away the car they paid for while she has continued to live with a friend’s family.
• A New Jersey judge heard the case Tuesday and ruled against forcing Canning’s parents to pay weekly child support and put off the decision regarding college tuition for a hearing next month.
“… what do you do when a child says ‘I don’t want your rules but I want everything under the sun and you to pay for it?’” {source: theblaze.com]
4. We have often known families where the kids are treated harshly and even abused, and families that unstable for a variety of reasons. It is a challenge.
5. How do we attempt to redeem our families and bring order to chaos? By biblical balance, which simply means obeying all the relevant commands, not camping on a few, as many are prone to do. And that obedience must be based on heart-attitudes.
Main Idea: Behind our behaviors are the attitudes that greatly affect the quality of our behaviors.
I. Children Must Develop an OBEDIENT Attitude (20)
A. What does the word “children” mean? MINORS
1. When you leave your parents and marry, you form your own family unit
2. Some cultures do not recognize this; parents of adults are still authority
3. Adults need to honor their parents, but not obey them
B. Children are expected to be influenced by SCRIPTURE
1. Are we sheltering our kids from Scripture cause “too boring” or “too hard for them to understand?” Are we transitioning them toward self-feeding?
2. Respecting the authority of Scripture must be caught
3. The reason so many Christians cave-in to the culture: trends vs. Word
C. The Greek: to listen and to CARRY OUT instructions
1. The assumption here is that parents are cozy with authority (void otherwise)
2. Jesus told parable about two sons in Matthew 21:28-31
3. “What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.”
4. We can deduce that a little resistance is okay…
5. We would say, “You don’t have to feel like doing it, just do it.” It’s freeing
6. Doing what you are responsible to do when you don’t feel like it = discipline
7. They do not have to be satisfied as to whether something needs to be done…
8. How do you feel about obeying the Lord? Did you want to get up and out today? Do you want to pray at the drop of a hat? Read the Word?
D. “In everything” means in all kinds of situations, not pressed to the EXTREME
1. If your child has a fear, don’t traumatize him more…
2. As always, we must obey God over people
E. “Learn to obey me and you will find it easier to obey GOD”
Application: As God’s children, how are we doing at obeying him?
Behind our behaviors are the attitudes that greatly affect the quality of our behaviors.
II. Parents Must Develop a CONSIDERATE Attitude to Avoid Frustrating Children
A. Parents are not USUALLY out to frustrate their children
1. Some wrong-headed people entertain selves by embarrassing kids
2. Frustration is usually unintentional and comes from failing to obey the Golden Rule; parents, did you know you must obey it re: your kids?
3. Kids may not be mature, but they have a full range of feelings & a full soul
B. Male OBLIVIOUSNESS is a handicap to overcome
C. Typical demoralizers: complements with BARBS, raising the BAR, MICRO-MANAGING, DISINTEREST, and HUMILIATING
Application: Consideration is important in the Body of Christ, too. Too many Christians say, “I don’t care what people think.” You should. Stand for convictions, but caring about the impact you have on others is primary to loving your neighbor.
Behind our behaviors are the attitudes that greatly affect the quality of our behaviors
III. Slaves Must Develop A HEARTY Attitude to Obtain An Inheritance
The idea that slavery is a thing of the past is an uninformed opinion. Slavery has never been eliminated from the Middle East. I was watching a TV documentary on the marijuana business; they kidnap people from Mexico… threaten to kill family… sex trafficking is a form of slavery…they type of slavery in Biblical times was often better than this…though sometimes worse; but it was part of society.
A. The sensitive nature of the SITUATION: Onesimus and Philemon
B. Both slaves and MASTERS in the Colossian church
C. Paul was NOT for slavery, but taught Christians how to function within
(I Corinthians 7:21, I Timothy 1:10 where slave traders were numbered among the ungodly)
D. A good work ETHIC means we recognize secular work as SPIRITUAL
1. Slaves had no earthly INHERITANCE, but promised a great eternal one
2. Work for the LORD (2 Great Commandments; here, work=loving God]
3. Work HEARTILY
4. Rewarded or Judged ACCORDINGLY
Behind our behaviors are the attitudes that greatly affect the quality of our behaviors
