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Developing a Right Attitude for Life Change Matthew 12: 33-37. Matthew 12: 33-37. Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.
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Matthew 12: 33-37 • Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. • O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. • A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. • But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. • For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. Developing a Right Attitude for Life Change
I Attitude Developing a Right Attitude for Life Change • Developing a right attitude for change starts with our perceptions of things.
Our perceptions of life and the things that happen to us determines the way we look at life. • The way we look at life forms our attitudes and actions. • These actions become habits by which we live. Developing a Right Attitude for Life Change
Attitudes that we form can make or break us. • Roman 12:1-3, tells us to renew our minds and not to be influenced by different events that change our attitudes about life. • A positive attitude must be maintained because “…as a man thinketh in his heart so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7). Developing a Right Attitude for Life Change
Our attitudes are constantly challenged by changes that are happening in our lives. • Emotional disorders cause us to lose our focus on what we are called to do. • The ability to adapt is central to being emotionally fit, healthy, and matured. Developing a Right Attitude for Life Change
What does it mean to be emotionally fit? An emotionally fit person is one who can adapt to changing circumstances with constructive reactions and who can enjoy living, loving others, and working productively. Developing a Right Attitude for Life Change
What are some of things that can overwhelm us and change our attitude? • Losing someone dear to us • Sickness • Disappointments • Failure • Grief • Guilt • The emotionally fit person is stable and maintains a positive attitude. Developing a Right Attitude for Life Change
II Trees • In Matt.12: 33-37, Jesus uses a “simile” a figure of speech in which two essentially unlike things are compared. • Jesus compares a man to a tree. Developing a Right Attitude for Life Change
Jesus Uses Three Things In His Comparison: • He uses the root of the tree, which represents the basic attitude of a man’s life. • He uses the trunk of the tree to represent man’s character. • He uses the leaves and the fruit to represent the result of a man’s life. Developing a Right Attitude for Life Change
Roots • Wherever our roots are attached, they become the source of our nourishment and attitude. • The nutrients that we receive develop our growth or defeat our growth. • What is in your system? • For what fills the heart will rise to the lips and create the condition of our lifestyle. Developing a Right Attitude for Life Change
A good attitude or a bad attitude comes from the source we are connected to. • Private victories proceed public victories. • If you cannot keep a promise to yourself, how will you keep promises of others. Developing a Right Attitude for Life Change
Proverbs 4:20-24 • My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. • Proverbs 23:12 • Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge. Developing a Right Attitude for Life Change
Trunk • Jesus compares the trunk of the tree to a man’s character. • Character says, who we are today and who we will be tomorrow. • Character says, “You can count on me.” • The trunk of the tree remains the same. • No element can change it nor circumstance nor seasons can move it. Developing a Right Attitude for Life Change
The trunk is dependable, faithful, loyal, unchangeable and is willing to give it’s life for the enjoyment of others. • It depends on what’s inside of it. Christians who develop this kind of attitude of inter-dependency becomes loyal, faithful, committed, and unchangeable, because they live by what is on the inside of them. Developing a Right Attitude for Life Change
The trunk was created with a purpose which is to “fulfill it’s life”. • You never see a oak tree trying to be a palm tree , or a palm tree trying to be popular. • Each one lives out the life it was designed for. Developing a Right Attitude for Life Change
As Christians, everything we naturally have and inherently are, is necessary to fulfill our purpose. Developing a Right Attitude for Life Change
Leaves and Fruit • The final stage of comparison of the tree is the leaves and fruit. • These represent our actions, and habits. • The nature of a tree is to bear fruit. • Likewise, the nature of a man is to bear fruit because the seed of God, the word, is in him. Developing a Right Attitude for Life Change
Developing a Right Attitude for Life Change • Jesus said if you abide in me you can bring forth fruit. • A tree does not strain to be a tree or bear fruit. • Jesus said, …without me you can do nothing, but with me, you can do all things because I am your source. Developing a Right Attitude for Life Change
