An Attractive Disposition

Sunday Sermons

Mark Dunagan
10/23/05 - Sunday Morning

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). “It is the opposite of stubbornness and thoughtlessness. It underlies chivalry and true politeness” (Erdman p. 139). Hendriksen notes: “The lesson which Paul teaches is that true blessedness cannot be obtained by the person who rigorously insists on whatever he regards as his just due. Sweet reasonableness is an essential ingredient to true happiness” (p. 193). But presenting a positive and cheerful disposition instead of an introverted, moody attitude that rarely smiles is something that must be constantly practiced. Why would anyone see us and want what we have if we appear we have been weaned on a pickle? 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” (18:14); “A joyful heart makes a cheerful face” (Proverbs 15:15); “Bright eyes gladden the heart” (15:15); “A tranquil heart is life to the body” (14:30).

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 hell” (The Weight of Glory, p. 48). He further noted that the War did not create an absolutely new situation rather it simply reminded us that human life has always been lived on the edge of a precipice, and that life has never been “normal”. The real question is “How it is right, or even psychologically possible, for creatures who are every moment advancing either to Heaven or to hell to spend any fraction of the little time allowed them in this world on such comparative trivialities as literature or art, mathematics or biology?” (p. 49). Christians sensitive to eternal realities have struggled with a very similar question, “How I can 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, “For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude” (1 Timothy 4:4). 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. In 1940 Lewis wrote a letter to his brother and observed, “I begin to suspect that the world is divided not only into the happy and the unhappy, but into those who like happiness and those who, odd as it seems, really don’t” (p. 10). I equally suspect that such a division is true in the Lord’s church as well, yet a Christian who is not happy is as much of a contradiction as a preacher who is not a people person. 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)?

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. The preoccupation with self will maim our ability not only to see God’s blessings but simply to be “fun” to be around. I see this in teenagers and adults who are so self-conscious concerning what others think, and so scared to make a mistake and take any risks that their company is uncomfortable at best, and if not,rather boring.

· 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. While I trust and entrust various things to my brethren and fellow man, they are not the source of my happiness, rather God is (1 Peter 1:22). Like Paul, we might be temporarily disappointed in a brother or sister, yet we rejoice because the true source of all our blessings is God (James 1:17).

· 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? (Acts 26:29) Not only do I truly enjoy the blessings that Jesus brought to me, but I equally enjoy the type of person that I am becoming and I do not regret the changes that are taking place (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” ). I know some people, even some professed Christians who would deny that they have had a “good” life, yet David, who had so many troubles said, “He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities” (Psalm 103:10). Yes, in spite of all of David’s troubles, David firmly believed that God had been better to him than he deserved and that is true of every man. “My cup overflows” (Psalm 23:5).

· 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. Not only did I experience God’s mercy when my sins were forgiven upon my baptism (Acts 2:38), but may I suggest that we have experienced God’s mercy virtually every day of our lives. In light of what happened to others in the past (Luke 13:1-5; Acts 5:1ff), every day that I am alive is an undeserved day of mercy. 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). Yet all the wolves in sheep’s clothing and all the assorted issues and problems that face God’s people in various places around the world at this moment will not stop or end what God started. The kingdom that God established cannot be destroyed (Hebrews 12:28 “a kingdom which cannot be shaken”). The devil has had virtually the entire history of man to stop God’s purposes and yet the Lord’s church exists today not only in North American but in many places around the world.

· I cannot control what others do or fail to do:

I know that at times we hear discouraging news about what Christians do or are failing to do in this or that area, but seeing that I am not there, that is not my battle. 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. Once again, we are making a mistake when we wrap our happiness around what someone else does. 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). It is so easy to become gun-shy concerning problems and live in fear of the next tragedy. Yet I have often found that many valuable lessons are learned during a time of testing, I understand various Scriptures better (Psalm 119:71), I am closer to God, less enchanted with the world, have closer friendships with my brethren, and more appreciative of the times when life is quiet.

· 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? 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).

Mark Dunagan/Beaverton Church of Christ/503-644-9017