What Attitude Does God Value Most?
There are things in life upon which we place certain value. Typically, the amount of money we spend on an item will tell something of its value. Something passed down in a family will also have great value whether it is expensive or not. However, is there a certain attitude that God values most?
We might consider several attitudes as valuable to God, such as: “poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, those who are persecuted” (Matthew 5:3-12). These are the attitudes that we should have as children of God. Jesus taught them to those whom He wanted to change the way they thought about serving God. There are blessings in these attitudes: the Kingdom of Heaven, comfort, mercy, seeing God, being called the sons of God, etc.
We would consider the attitudes listed as the “fruit of the Spirit” or even the Christian graces as they are often called as greatly valued by God. These are “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23) and “virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love” (2 Peter 1:5-8). All of these attitudes rank as valuable to God. In these we see a goal of spiritual growth as commanded by the apostle Peter in “adding to your faith…” He concludes his letter with this last command to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).
THE GREATEST COMMAND
Jesus was asked by the lawyer, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus answered: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:35-40).
WHAT DO WE LEARN?
1. Jesus taught the greatest command started with “love” and was followed by loving your neighbor as yourself. What does the greatest command of love lead one to? To serve God and to serve our neighbor. God has shown us this love by the sending of His Son to live and die for us. Paul wrote: “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8).
2. Paul explained for us what this looks like in our lives: “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:1-4). Because of the love of Christ, “having the same love…esteem others better.” This is loving God and loving your neighbor. Verse five continues, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,” teaching us that our example is God. Then, Paul continues to illustrate what Christ did leaving Heaven — “who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:6-8). Because of the love of Christ, we serve Him and those around us.
3. Jesus “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for man” (Matthew 20:28). What an amazing thought — that God would come to serve man! Peter reminds us that He is our “example to follow in His steps” (1 Peter 2:21).
There are certainly numerous ways in which we serve in the Kingdom of Christ. Our faithful living gives us opportunities to do so each day by teaching others the Gospel, encouraging and edifying others, helping others in their weaknesses and needs, praying for those around us, and leading in the Kingdom in various God-ordained roles.
May we each find our place to serve God and our neighbors for God greatly values this attitude for it is the catalyst to all the works wherein God loves His creation.
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