Attitudes of Collaboration
Romans 12:9-13
Just prior to these verses, Paul tells us to present our bodies a living sacrifice to God through Christ. This is the key to the whole passage and to living the God honoring Christian life. Then we are to use the gifts that God has given the church. God tells us to be humble, 1 Peter 5:6, but there is nothing wrong with boasting in what God has given the church to bring honor to Him. We need to know our strengths to use them and we need to know our weaknesses to supplement them.
Next, Paul tells us what we must do individually so that the church corporately will work together bringing honor to God. He gives us the attitudes of collaboration. We have already discussed the first few, love without hypocrisy, hating evil and loving good, loving each other, and preferring each other. Now let us go on to the next few.
Paul continues to tell us to be vigilant in business. We must have a relentless, can do attitude. Proverbs tells us much about being vigilant, Prov. 12:24, 13:4, as well as the New Testament, Phil. 4:13. It does not say I might be able to do what God wants me to do but I CAN. Too many times, we are defeated even before we begin by having the wrong attitude. Whether you think you can or you cannot, you are usually right. The first attitude of collaboration is love, vs. 9-10, and it is followed by a can do attitude, for attitude, not aptitude, will determine our altitude. We must stop worrying about how to do things and we need to start asking ourselves, what God wants us to do. If God calls us to do something, He will make a way, we simply need to follow. What do you know God has asked you to do? Are you fulfilling it? This year, where do you want to go in Christ? Where would you like to see the church go?