What’s a good attitude, anyway?

We’ve all heard about the importance of having a good attitude. But what is a good attitude, anyway?

Many will point out that a good attitude is that which is agreeable, friendly, positive, and so on. But does a good attitude go beyond this? I think it does.

The Bible tells us that we are to have the same attitude ourselves which was also in Christ Jesus (Phil.2:5). So, what is it to have an attitude like Christ’s, or what you might call a Christlike attitude?

The first thing is that a Christlike attitude is focused on others. So much talk about attitude in our day is individualistic and self-centered. But if we look to Christ as the standard of a good attitude, we see He was focused on others. He came not to be served, but to serve and give His life a ransom for many. He was preoccupied not with Himself, but bringing redemption to those who needed it.

This is to be the pattern of all who would follow Christ with a good attitude. We are to give preference to others in honor. We’re to “let all be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kind-hearted, and humble in spirit, not returning evil for evil, or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead. . .” (1 Pet.3:8,9).