Part 2 (1/2)

I could tell right away hey weren't digging that at all. So I leaned down and said to them, ”Boy, I bet it's been a long time since someone has done that to you.”

The wife looked up and said (in a voice somewhere between Gladys Cravitz on Bewitched Bewitched and Mrs. Howell on and Mrs. Howell on Gilligan's Island Gilligan's Island ): ”Well, normally we don't spend so much time with immature people.” ): ”Well, normally we don't spend so much time with immature people.”

I just thought, ”You poor soul! Back into the wilderness you go!”

Do you know something? These are not bad people; these are good people. These are people like you and me who, without realizing it, choose att.i.tudes moment by moment and day after day that eventually become their lifestyle. Humor was not allowed in their lifestyle. No fun, no kidding or teasing, no relaxing banter between acquaintances, just a dry, joyless, wilderness existence. They had become desert wanderers. I'm getting thirsty just thinking about the life they are living and the att.i.tudes they have chosen.

The stone family didn't want to laugh about wrong things but eventually got to the place where they couldn't laugh at all! Especially not at themselves. That is a sure sign of wilderness living-the inability to laugh at oneself.

Can You Laugh At Yourself?

I've always told my kids: If you can't laugh at yourself, the whole world stinks. That's true. Like the man who fell asleep on the couch in his home, and his playful children put a piece of Limburger cheese on his moustache. When he woke up, he smelled something terribly wrong and ran through the house yelling, ”Something in this room stinks! No, something in this house stinks!”

Unable to locate the trouble, he went out on the front porch and yelled at the top of his lungs, ”This whole world stinks!” ”This whole world stinks!”

LET'S TALK SOLUTION Remember that this chapter t.i.tle is ”Replace a Complaining Att.i.tude . . .” Our concern has been to identify the telltale signs of complaining in our lives. Before I hint at the solution, I want to encourage you to continue immediately to the next chapter when you've finished reading this one. There we will put into practice an important spiritual principle: Once you empty something, you must fill it with something else. Jesus gave a chilling warning about the fate of someone who had a demon expelled but didn't fill the house with G.o.d's Spirit (Matthew 12:4345). The demon returned with friends and made the man's life worse than before! When we set out to replace a bad att.i.tude, we need to pray and then put a good att.i.tude in its place. You can't simply put off bad habits and live in a vacuum; you have to put on good ones in their place. Now let's look for a moment at solution steps. To do so, we need to ask ourselves some soul-searching questions. Ask yourself: 1. Am I a complainer? Am I a complainer? I challenge you to begin to pray from your heart, ”G.o.d, am I a complainer?” Complaining is so hard to see in ourselves, especially when it's reached the habit stage. It's easy to see in others. When we complain, we say, ”I'm just getting things off my chest.” But when other people complain, we're quick to advise, ”You're not helping anything.” Let me ask you these clarifying questions: What two or three things about your life would you most like to change? Are you complaining about those things verbally or nonverbally? Are you accepting and thankful or resisting and complaining? I challenge you to begin to pray from your heart, ”G.o.d, am I a complainer?” Complaining is so hard to see in ourselves, especially when it's reached the habit stage. It's easy to see in others. When we complain, we say, ”I'm just getting things off my chest.” But when other people complain, we're quick to advise, ”You're not helping anything.” Let me ask you these clarifying questions: What two or three things about your life would you most like to change? Are you complaining about those things verbally or nonverbally? Are you accepting and thankful or resisting and complaining?

2. Am I reaping the consequences of complaining in my relations.h.i.+p with G.o.d? Is that the problem? Am I reaping the consequences of complaining in my relations.h.i.+p with G.o.d? Is that the problem? Imagine that G.o.d whispered into your heart right now, ”I'm listening. I'm listening. I hear everything you say. I hear every thought you think-all of it.” Would that shed a new light on the landscape of our life? If your life lacks joy and a sense of G.o.d's favor and presence . . . if your heart is like a wilderness, it's your att.i.tudes. Imagine that G.o.d whispered into your heart right now, ”I'm listening. I'm listening. I hear everything you say. I hear every thought you think-all of it.” Would that shed a new light on the landscape of our life? If your life lacks joy and a sense of G.o.d's favor and presence . . . if your heart is like a wilderness, it's your att.i.tudes.

3. Am I willing to repent? Am I willing to repent? Am I willing to turn from that att.i.tude of complaining, acknowledge its wrongness, and ask G.o.d to change my att.i.tude? We've been in the Old Testament for this lesson, but let's highlight the good news with these closing thoughts. That good news we celebrate is the message of Jesus Christ. His death provided a way for us to be forgiven and cleansed and have a fresh start in life and in our att.i.tudes. We need only repent-agree with G.o.d that our complaints are sin- and choose to turn from complaining and ask His forgiveness. Am I willing to turn from that att.i.tude of complaining, acknowledge its wrongness, and ask G.o.d to change my att.i.tude? We've been in the Old Testament for this lesson, but let's highlight the good news with these closing thoughts. That good news we celebrate is the message of Jesus Christ. His death provided a way for us to be forgiven and cleansed and have a fresh start in life and in our att.i.tudes. We need only repent-agree with G.o.d that our complaints are sin- and choose to turn from complaining and ask His forgiveness.

I realize the above questions may have made you uncomfortable, but we will need to get over that. If you and I are serious about putting the wilderness behind us, we must get serious about why we're there, and that means answering probing questions at the end of every chapter. Questions like these help us accept responsibility for our att.i.tudes. If you blew off the questions above, please look at them again. And if G.o.d reveals complaining as a problem in your life . . . acknowledge it! And then turn from it. Otherwise, expect more wilderness ahead.

In the next chapter I will be talking about the wonderful, positive, life-giving att.i.tude that replaces complaining, but let me take a moment and share a bit of my own struggle in this area.

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL.

On a personal level, complaining has definitely been an issue for me. I'm really thankful to G.o.d for a wife who many times has taken me aside and said, ”Do you know what? You're not helping anything. Your complaints are not making anything better.” Then she'll often say, ”We need to stop and pray about this.” I complain about incompetence, I complain about traffic and pressure, and weather and moral decline,and...I can feel the sinful pattern welling up in me even now as I write to you (better stop, ha, ha).

Countless times in years gone by, Kathy and I have sat together while I pray, ”G.o.d, I'm sorry for my att.i.tude. It's wrong. I know it's not pleasing to You. Please forgive my complaining att.i.tude and cleanse my heart.” The Lord has been so faithful to do that. In fact, I encourage you to take a moment and pray right now.

Look Up Lord, I thank You for Your Word. I thank You that You have revealed Yourself to me as You truly are. Thank You for directing Your holy, righteous anger at my complaining and how that keeps me from You. Thank You, Lord, that You not only love me, but You hate my complaining and the way that it makes my life like a desert.

In this moment, I ask that You would make me very aware of what I say and what I think. Keep the connection strong between how I deal with my circ.u.mstances and the joy that I experience. Forgive me for complaining, not just because of how it affects our relations.h.i.+p, but how it affects my relations.h.i.+ps with those I love. Give me grace and faith to embrace the trials You allow, knowing what is best for me is always upon Your heart. Please teach me not to complain, and even as I look to this next chapter, teach me to put on the life-giving, joy-producing att.i.tude that goes in its place. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

CHAPTER 2:.

...WITH A THANKFUL ATt.i.tUDE.

LUKE 17:1119 SAY IT IN A SENTENCE: SAY IT IN A SENTENCE:.

Thankfulness is the att.i.tude that perfectly displaces my sinful tendency to complain and thereby release joy and blessing into my life.

The hardest part about writing a book on our att.i.tudes is keeping a good one while you're helping others work on theirs. Be encouraged, thou you're doing great! You're through the introduction and the first chapter and ready for more. Great things are ahead if you will press on with a humble, teachable att.i.tude.

In the last chapter, we saw G.o.d rain down fire from heaven. And lest we dismiss that action from G.o.d as ”that was then, this is now,” we also learned from 1 Corinthians 10:11 that what happened to them was recorded as an example to us. So the partial statement that summarized the last chapter was ”Replace a Complaining Att.i.tude . . .”

We are concluding that statement in this chapter by adding, ”. . . With a Thankful Att.i.tude.” We're going to put off the old att.i.tude of complaining, and put on the new one of thankfulness. In fact, as you will see, thankfulness is the perfect replacement for complaining.

Do you know the story of Christ and the ten lepers-the time that Christ miraculously healed these ten dudes and only one even said thanks? If you ever thought thankfulness was not important to Christ, you were wrong. In fact, He got pretty steamed at the ungrateful ones. Let's look at the story more closely.

THANKLESSNESS IS NOTHING NEW.

”As He entered a village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him; and they raised their voices, saying, 'Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!'” (Luke 17:1213). (Luke 17:1213).

This is nothing new. Since the beginning of time, humanity has called forth in an unbroken, mighty chorus: ”G.o.d, do this for me! G.o.d, do that for me! G.o.d, I need this! G.o.d, I need that!” No time for G.o.d when things are going well; but in their moment of need, everyone is on their knees. Isn't it amazing that G.o.d in His infinite grace never tires of our fickle, thankless ways? ”When He saw them,” verse 14 continues, ”He said to them, 'Go and show yourselves to the priests.' And as they were going, they were cleansed.”

In the New Testament, leprosy is a broad term that covers a variety of skin diseases which brought pain and suffering and rendered the victim a virtual outcast from society. In order to get back to their families, they had to get approval from the priests, and this is what Jesus commanded them to do. In fact, it wasn't until they moved in that direction that they were actually healed. It wasn't until they had walked a fair distance from Christ that they began to say, ”Hey! Check me me out! I'm completely healed!” ”Me too! Look at this; I'm totally cleansed and whole!” All at once, all ten of them were healed; each had received an incredible gift from the Lord. out! I'm completely healed!” ”Me too! Look at this; I'm totally cleansed and whole!” All at once, all ten of them were healed; each had received an incredible gift from the Lord.

When they saw they had been healed, nine kept going. Verse 15 begins: ”Now ”Now one one of them” of them” (italics added). Only one turned and walked back to Jesus in order to express his thankfulness. (italics added). Only one turned and walked back to Jesus in order to express his thankfulness. ”When he saw that he had been healed, [he] turned back, glorifying G.o.d with a loud voice” ”When he saw that he had been healed, [he] turned back, glorifying G.o.d with a loud voice” (verse 15). He was fired up with grat.i.tude! (verse 15). He was fired up with grat.i.tude!

Notice the humility. ”He fell on his face at [Jesus'] feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan” ”He fell on his face at [Jesus'] feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan” (verse 16). He not only fell down, but he did so as a Samaritan. That is very significant. The Samaritans were hated by the Jews as part of a complex and ancient racial prejudice. Though he was really outside the household of faith and had, on a human level, the fewest reasons to thank a Jewish man, this Samaritan returned gratefully. The point is, no one has an acceptable excuse for ungratefulness. Everyone can make the choice to give thanks and acknowledge the goodness and the grace of G.o.d. (verse 16). He not only fell down, but he did so as a Samaritan. That is very significant. The Samaritans were hated by the Jews as part of a complex and ancient racial prejudice. Though he was really outside the household of faith and had, on a human level, the fewest reasons to thank a Jewish man, this Samaritan returned gratefully. The point is, no one has an acceptable excuse for ungratefulness. Everyone can make the choice to give thanks and acknowledge the goodness and the grace of G.o.d.

Sadly, however, only a small fraction of the human population ever personally thanks G.o.d for His grace. Again, notice the contrast: a thankless nine and a thankful one. Ten actions received; ten att.i.tudes chosen, but only one person thankful. Att.i.tude is everything!nd Christ notices too. Indeed, Christ notices those who are ungrateful.

There is no doubt but that Christ Himself was aware and disturbed by such a flagrant instance of ungratefulness. ”'Were there not ten cleansed?'” ”'Were there not ten cleansed?'” Jesus asked (verse 17). It was a rhetorical question. He wasn't trying to figure it out; He was simply pointing out their outrageous, thankless att.i.tude. Jesus asked (verse 17). It was a rhetorical question. He wasn't trying to figure it out; He was simply pointing out their outrageous, thankless att.i.tude. ”'Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine-where are they? Was no one found who returned to give glory to G.o.d, except this foreigner?'” ”'Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine-where are they? Was no one found who returned to give glory to G.o.d, except this foreigner?'” (verses 1718). Just this one, who, based on the social injustices he had received, had many excuses for not coming and saying, ”Thanks.” If he could overcome all of that to express sincere grat.i.tude, how could the others walk away? (verses 1718). Just this one, who, based on the social injustices he had received, had many excuses for not coming and saying, ”Thanks.” If he could overcome all of that to express sincere grat.i.tude, how could the others walk away?

Then Jesus turned to the thankful man, saying, ”Stand up and go; your faith has made you well” ”Stand up and go; your faith has made you well” (verse 19). Circle the word (verse 19). Circle the word well well. Jesus was not talking about being physically well. All ten of the lepers were made well. To say that his ”faith had made him well” would be incredibly redundant, because the ones who didn't have any faith, those ones who didn't show any thankfulness, were also made well physically. Christ was saying in effect: ”Because of your gratefulness-because of your thankfulness-you have been made well in a much deeper way than those who refused to be thankful.”

G.o.d, OUR GRACIOUS PROVIDER.

Only when we acknowledge G.o.d as the gracious provider of general blessings, like life and breath, food and shelter, do we begin to comprehend our need for G.o.d in a personal way and begin to express faith in Him.

Let me say it again: Only when we recognize G.o.d as our gracious provider do we comprehend our need for G.o.d and begin to express faith in Him. That is a very significant point. Faith grows in the soil of thankfulness. Only when a person outside of Christ is willing to acknowledge-”Yes, there is a G.o.d. I have received much from His hand and probably owe Him something more than pa.s.sive acknowledgment. Perhaps I should turn and consider whether I ought to be reconciled to this G.o.d who made me and gives me life and strength”- only then will he be ready for faith. Faith to believe in G.o.d as the One to whom we must all be reconciled sprouts in the soil of gratefulness.

Paul made this same point on a cosmic scale in Romans 1, when he wrote that: -- G.o.d created the universe.

-- Within the heart of every human being is an awareness of the reality of G.o.d.

-- Apart from thankfulness, our awareness of G.o.d will always be suppressed.

As Romans 1:1920 declares, ”Because that which is known about G.o.d is evident within them; for G.o.d made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen.” ”Because that which is known about G.o.d is evident within them; for G.o.d made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen.” Only the most resolutely unbelieving person would ever stand and look at the universe and say, ”There is no G.o.d.” Only the most resolutely unbelieving person would ever stand and look at the universe and say, ”There is no G.o.d.” ”The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no G.o.d'” ”The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no G.o.d'” (Psalm 14:1). Any person with basic objectivity knows that all of this didn't come from a mindless and purposeless explosion. Random creativity doesn't make any more sense than taking a stick of dynamite, throwing it into a printing factory, and expecting the explosion to produce the Declaration of Independence. You don't get order from chaos, and there is no way that all we see around us could possibly exist without a G.o.d of some sort who brought it into existence. (Psalm 14:1). Any person with basic objectivity knows that all of this didn't come from a mindless and purposeless explosion. Random creativity doesn't make any more sense than taking a stick of dynamite, throwing it into a printing factory, and expecting the explosion to produce the Declaration of Independence. You don't get order from chaos, and there is no way that all we see around us could possibly exist without a G.o.d of some sort who brought it into existence.

OBJECTION! OBJECTION!.

You may object: ”But I don't understand G.o.d.” Yet still you must make a choice about His existence-the alternative being that our entire universe evolved from nothing. I f Independ#x2019;t think so! Design shouts Designer.

Now amazingly your capacity to make the right choice about the existence of G.o.d hinges on the level of thankfulness in your heart. As Paul argued, ”For even though they knew G.o.d” ”For even though they knew G.o.d” -even though there was something deep within them that said, ”There is a G.o.d; there is a G.o.d”- -even though there was something deep within them that said, ”There is a G.o.d; there is a G.o.d”- ”they did not honor Him as G.o.d or give thanks” ”they did not honor Him as G.o.d or give thanks” (Romans 1:21). At the root of mankind's rejection of G.o.d is a resolute unwillingness to be thankful. (Romans 1:21). At the root of mankind's rejection of G.o.d is a resolute unwillingness to be thankful. ”But they became futile in their speculations and their foolish heart was darkened.” ”But they became futile in their speculations and their foolish heart was darkened.” After that, things got really ugly. After that, things got really ugly.

My point to you is that all of the good things that G.o.d wants to bring into your life sprout in the soil of thankfulness, and I don't mean mere words.

Thankfulness is far more than saying the right words.

Genuine grat.i.tude must be distinguished from the kind of thanks we are programmed to spout as children. Maybe your mom was the same as mine. No sooner had someone given me half a cookie, than I felt her elbow and heard the whisper, ”Say thanks. Say thanks!” By the time we were three years old, the MacDonald children had said ”thanks” about a million times. Then, before we knew it, we were poking our own kids: ”Say thanks. Say thanks.”

But does it really mean anything? I'm sure you find yourself in public situations where politeness requires a steady stream of duty thanks, ”Thanks. Thanks. Thanks.”