“An Attractive Disposition”

1. “An Attractive Disposition” Philippians 4:4,5

2. As Christians, our outward disposition should reflect an inner joy and rejoicing in the Lord… “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near” Philippians 4:4-5). The expression “gentle spirit” means “goodwill, fairness, magnanimity” (Muller pp. 140).

3. A character trait of Jesus in contrast to the Pharisees was that He attracted even sinners. Numerous proverbs attest to the benefit of a cheerful, pleasant disposition… “A joyful heart is a good medicine” - Proverbs 17:22 “The spirit of a man can endure his sickness” - Proverbs 18:14 “A joyful heart makes a cheerful face” - Proverbs 15:13 “Bright eyes gladden the heart” 15:30 “A tranquil heart is life to the body” (14:30).

4. But We Are Surrounded By Bad News? During the dark days of World War II C.S. Lewis was asked “How does one continue to take an interest in the ordinary things of life, like an education, when the lives of our friends and the liberties of Europe are in the balance? Is it not like fiddling while Rome burns?” Lewis responded, “Now it seems to me that we shall not be able to answer these questions until we have put them by the side of certain other questions which every Christian ought to have asked himself in peacetime. I spoke just now of fiddling while Rome burns. But to a Christian the true tragedy of Nero must be not that he fiddled while the city was on fire but that he fiddled on the brink of condemnation” (The Weight of Glory, p. 48).

5. Christians sensitive to eternal realities have struggled with a very similar question, “How can I rejoice when so many souls around me are lost in sin, and when every day I do battle with principalities and powers in the heavenly places that seek to not only destroy me but everyone that I love, including my children?” Yes, Paul agonized over the condition of churches and the souls of the lost (2 Corinthians 11:28-29; Romans 9:1-5 “unceasing grief”) and at the same time had unceasing joy (Philippians 4:4). God wants us to save souls (Mark 16:15); defend the truth (Philippians 1:16); expose sin (Ephesians 5:11); and answer the critics (Titus 1:9-11)—as well as enjoy the pleasures of marriage (1 Corinthians 7:1-5; Proverbs 5:15ff; Ecclesiastes (9:10) and family (Titus 2:4-5) and the blessings of His creation.

6. One man said, “Having done the best we can to perform whatever God demands, should we not at least enjoy the good He sends us?” (The Weight of Glory, Introduction, p. 1). In Philippians 4:5 Paul said, “Let your gentle spirit be known to all men”—as if we have control over the disposition that we present to unbelievers. So how were individuals like Jesus and Paul able to rejoice and revel in God’s creation and His blessings when “the days were evil” (Ephesians 5:16)?

7. Keys to Happiness • People are very interesting: • First may I suggest that we will do our best work, including our best rejoicing when we cease to be enamored with ourselves (Philippians 2:3-4), and realize that there are others on this planet. • I do not expect perfection of others: • Part of treating others the same way we want them to treat us (Matthew 7:12) is realizing that others will make mistakes or will not be able to meet our every need.

8. I like being a Christian: • Do we really want and really like the blessings (including happiness) that Jesus died to give us? Do we presently enjoy the fact that we are forgiven? Do we enjoy the new life that God has given us? Do we enjoy the person of character that we are becoming and the renewal that is taking place for the inner man day by day? Do we like being a Christian? (2 Corinthians 7:10). • I am having a good life:  • Notice I said a good life, I did not say a trouble-free life, because everyone faces troubles, temptations and trials (1 Corinthians 10:13 “but such as is common to man”; 2 Corinthians 4:17 “For momentary, light affliction is producing for us” ). • David firmly believed that God had been better to him than he deserved and that is true of every man. Psalm 23:5

9. I have been the object of God’s mercy: • “Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life” (Psalm 23:6). David was equally certain that God’s mercy followed him, and that he experienced the “undeserved” mercy of God every day. • The question is not, “Why did this happen to me?” But rather, “Why doesn’t this happen to me every day?” “The Lord’s lovingkindness indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23). • Man cannot stop God’s plan: • Yes I know that there are false teachers and other problems facing the Lord’s church, but this is nothing new (Matthew 7:15; 2 Peter 2:1-3). • The kingdom that God established cannot be destroyed (Hebrews 12:28 “a kingdom which cannot be shaken”).

10. I cannot control what others do or fail to do: • God already told us that people will fall away (2 Timothy 4:3), and some will not grow (Hebrews 5:12), and others will not listen (Matthew 13:19), yet none of that determines my destiny. • My faith is in God and not men (1 Corinthians 2:5). • Hardship is my friend: • Paul had learned that when he was the most vulnerable and in the greatest need, at such times he was at the peak of his spiritual strength, “I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10).

11. I am the answer to someone’s prayers: • Do you see yourself in that light? Your parents certainly prayed for you prior to your birth and clearly your mate (or future mate) prayed that God would bring you into their life. We are living “answered prayers”, much like Samuel (1 Samuel 1:11). • God wants to rejoice in my salvation:  • How can we not but smile and rejoice each day when we realize that God wants to love and rejoice in us?

12. Conclusion • Have we never read, “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” (Ephesians 1:18)? • No wonder Peter could write, “and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8).

13. Do we have an “attractive disposition”? “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).