Be-ATTITUDES

Every preacher has probably preached on the Beatitudes at some point in their time in the pulpit. There are probably a few people who can even quote them.  A lot of people reading the Gospel of Matthew probably skim over these nine verses just to get past them since the passage is so familiar.  The verses can even be found on knick-nacks at a discount store. Nothing here to waste time on.  HOLD ON a minute, turns out Jesus had a lot to say about the ATTITUDES prevalent in our society right now. There are more solutions in this passage than in any other media available.  What? Well, take a better look at it ONE VERSE AT A TIME.

Matthew 5:3-11 are the BE - ATTITUDES…

1) BE POOR IN SPIRIT – Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven

How do you think of yourself?  In humility or pride? If in humility, then what form of humility?

There is vanity when one considers how much was sacrificed in giving.  Being proud of how much offering was given or how wonderful it was of us to give those groceries to the needy.  Being proud of how “un-wealthy” we are is just as bad as King Midas counting every one of his gold coins.

Be poor but not proud.  Job was as thankful for the “taking away”; as he was for “the giving”!

Be humble and lowly.  Matthew Henry puts it this way:  “accommodate ourselves to our poverty…not in pride or prejudice….not throwing away what God has given us…be as little children in our opinion of ourselves…”

2) BE MOURNFUL – Receive comfort

Has this verse ever been used for anything other than during the occasion of the death of someone?

We are to be mournful.  Not the sorrow of life in this world but mournful over sin.  We must feel the sorrowfulness for our sins.  Sins which were paid for by the high cost of a blood sacrifice.  Mournful enough that we are apologetic for our sinful nature. Life must be lived in repentance.

There is a second reason for being mournful.  We need to have sorrow for the sins of others.  Do you feel the sorrow watching your fellow man wallow in his depravity?  Jesus did.  That is why he blessed those who mourn.  In Luke 19:41, Jesus wept over Jerusalem and its “state/condition”.

3) BE MEEK - and inherit the earth

This word IS NOT even a part of our vocabulary today.  What does it mean?  You have heard the expression: “Google it”.  Well do that and you will find this definition:

 “quiet, gentle, and easily imposed on; submissive”

That entire definition is so opposed to what is broadcasted from every angle of culture and society.  Look for an example of a person around that fits this description of being meek.  How many can you list?

For a follower of God, this one should hit them in some sensitive areas of their lifestyle and attitudes. What a directive on how a child of God should live and conduct themselves daily. It is also a VERY SIMPLE answer from God on how we should be reacting to the strange chaos we are finding ourselves living in today.

Then there is submissive.  An entire paper can be written on that.  Submission is expected to both authority here on earth and in heaven.  We are expected to be submissive in our homes, marriages, jobs, and authorities.

This is “Quiet Submission” to God and man. Not boastful about that submission or humility.  Calling attention to the fact that you are being submissive is false humility.  Titus 3:1-2 dictates that we are to be gentle in dealings with the evil of men.  Not allowing ourselves to being provoked.  OUCH, does that mandate what our reaction is to look like?

4) BE HUNGRY AND THIRSTY FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS – and you will be filled

Thriving constantly for purity.  Not for perfection.  When are you hungry?  Have you ever missed more than one meal?  Your stomach starts talking to you.  When you have that kind of desire for God’s Word and for being in the presence of God you are getting closer.  Unlike eating food, you will never reach a full “stomach” until you are standing before the throne of God.  Our goal is to be as much like Jesus as possible without the self-righteousness displayed by the Pharisee in scripture.

5) BE MERCIFUL – and you will obtain mercy

How quick are we to snap a response at the actions of those we see on media today? We are very quick at pronouncing our judgment.  This does not mean or dictate we condone a sinful life style.  A sinful life will send the soul to Hell. Period, end of story!  BUT, there is NO SOUL THAT IS NOT ABLE TO BE SAVED! 

How much do we assume the afflictions, problems or needs of others?  To little time in our seemingly busy schedule to bother with them.  Where is the compassion and care for our fellow man?  Scripture is filled with examples of mercy.  There were those who lowered their friend through the roof just to be healed.  Boaz allowed Ruth to get food from his fields.  It is also filled with those who treated lepers as outcasts and did not show mercy.  Which form of mercy do you display?

6) BE PURE IN HEART – and you will see God

Cleanliness of the heart.  If your heart has never made a commitment to Christ, then none of this will mean anything to you.  The first thing needed is a heart that has been totally surrendered to God and has agreed to Him being the master of everything.  Once that has happened, priorities begin to change and these Be-Attitudes begin to make sense.

7) BE A PEACEMAKER – to be called the children of God

Are we striving to obtain peaceful solutions or are we always an instigator to say or do something to cause dissention or unrest.

8) BE RIGHTEOUS AND PREPARED FOR PERSECUTION

This covers both blatant persecution and the suffering that comes as a result of standing for the righteousness of God. Persecution WILL COME for adherence to righteousness!

Those living in America have not known true persecution. Are they prepared for it?  There are those who have given their lives for the Gospel.  Persecution can come in many forms from simple name calling and false accusations. However, are you prepared for persecution that results in not having food on the table or a home to live?  How about the loss of a job to pay the bills UNLESS you agree to a lifestyle or organization that denies Biblical principles?

Remaining true to convictions and righteousness is the most difficult of all these.  Being rooted in God’s word will be the greatest weapon available to the children of God.

Each of these BE-ATTITUDES builds upon one another. They were not spoken by Jesus to be used as just another common liturgy or as a cute plague on the wall of an office. Better read them slowly again and pay more careful attention to them before quoting them.

Joy On The Job?

**originally posted March 2009

John the Baptist talked about being content with your wages

Luke 3:8-9, 14: Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, ……..every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.

John the Baptist is preaching repentance and telling the crowds that are assembled to show some fruit if they are truly repentant. Several different groups of people ask John what they should now do. It is the soldiers in verse 14 that we want to take note of.

Remember the time period of this passage. What soldiers is he talking to? These are Roman soldiers! Battle hardened, tough military men who were asking John what they could do to show that they were worthy. John’s answer was to do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages. He was addressing their jobs, their way of life. They were to now be different when doing their jobs. They would now stand out when they were among their fellow soldiers. Can you picture in your mind a gentle, and content with his job Roman soldier?

Solomon asks if there is injustice in doing labor

The justice or injustice of doing labor was something that bothered Solomon. Even with all the wisdom that God gave him, he had difficulties understanding what the purpose was with labor and how it was of any profit to a man to do it. This was not questions coming from a lazy man. On the contrary, study history and you will find that Solomon was far from being lazy. Here is what Solomon had to say in the book of Ecclesiastes 1:3-4; 2:4-26:

What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.


I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards…..gardens and orchards….trees in them of all kind of fruits: I made me pools of water…got me servants and maidens, and …..had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me: I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me …singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts. So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.


Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun. Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun. For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?


Do you find yourself thinking any of these very same thoughts? Is this a guy that is depressed about his job? He had everything in the world. He had done everything in the world. Yet he saw that it all meant nothing when it was all over. Is that the end of the story? Do we just continue through life with similar thoughts and feelings? Look at the conclusion that Solomon came to:

There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God. For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Let’s break that down.

God gives to a man that is good in his sight: Wisdom, Knowledge, Joy
God gives to the sinner: Travail, to gather up.

What is the sinner going to do? He is going to give to him that is good!

How does this apply to having joy on the job?

I want to make a suggestion.

Are you receiving “Wisdom”, “Knowledge”, and “Joy” from God while on your job? Are you “content” with your wages?
If not, who are you looking to for obtaining it? Are you looking to your supervisors for it? Are you looking to your co-workers for it? If so, WHY? Those items come from your creator and not from your employer!

So you say, yes I agree with you. I look to God for those things, but yet I don’t seem to get enough wisdom from the Lord each day. I don’t have enough Joy in going to work every day. Well, the answer may be hard to accept. The verse above said that “God giveth to a man that is good in his sight…..”

Are you “good” in his sight? BE CAREFUL how you answer that question! If you were to snap a quick response of yes, you should then be labeling yourself as one of the many things that Solomon lists as “vanities”.

There was only one good man and he went to Calvary for your soul. Our only desire must be to strive each and every day to live a life that is worthy of his death on the hillside of Golgotha. Remind yourself continually through out the day of his death and keep asking yourself one question: “Am I worthy of that sacrifice?” If you do that throughout the day, humbleness will begin to set in. With humbleness of spirit, the Lord begins to take control of your every action and thought. Then you begin that trip towards the “good” that Jesus modeled for us. As you go, watch how he provides the “Wisdom” in your speech and deeds. Watch as you begin to see “Joy” in doing that tedious task for the hundredth time. Watch as he brings “Knowledge” to you concerning things you never knew or understood before! Then start spending time daily with him in prayer and reading his word. He will take care of the rest.

WDK