Win-Win

Attitude

Wouldn’t life be easy if everyone just held the same opinions and preferences? Wouldn’t it be amazing if we were all perfectly aligned about everything? Well, actually, if you really push this thought experiment to its logical conclusion the reality is that you end up losing all creativity and variation. The reason is because we would all be doing the same things, seeking the same things, and thinking the same things. All entertainment, comedy, excitement, and fun would be completely foreign. It would be a sad monocultural environment with the complexity, beauty, and refinement that God made when He created the world. Perfection is not sameness.

Recently, I have been thinking through and discerning the attitude of my own heart, and I have come to the conclusion that I desire to obey the Lord in His instruction that I must wage war against bitterness and strife in my own heart (Hebrews 12:12-17). Therefore, I have determined that as far as it depends on me I will live at peace with everyone (Romans 12:9-21). I have determined that I will seek to bless those who disagree with me and seek their good and their benefit. I will always be seeking the optimistic hope of finding a win-win situation!

Mature Minds

When Paul was writing to the Corinthians about their misuse of the gifts of the Spirit, he exhorted them to understand that the presence of their gifts was meant to build each other up in Christ. Since this is the case he told them that they should be mature in their thinking (1 Corinthians 14:1-5;20-25). Now, Paul is clear that he does not mean mature in the sense that our culture would mean in terms of being sensually explicit. Rather, he means that they should recognize how they can put their own self interest aside to serve and bless each other.

I am convinced that I must be mature in my mind with my thinking set on the purposes and instructions of Christ. These things may appear foolish to the world and even strange to some other believers but since Jesus is King, His will must take priority in all things.

Paul also takes up this same priority of seeking their advantage over his own in his second letter by alerting the Corinthians to the fact that what he has been doing for them is for their building up (2 Corinthians 12:14-21). The point is that this sentiment is found all through the Scriptures. We must settle in our minds to think rightly and not sin in our thinking through bitterness, pride, or selfishness.

Humble Hearts

Ultimately, this is a matter of the heart. Genuinely loving and caring for people means that we are making ourselves vulnerable to be hurt and offended. But we must be the ones who decide what that offense will be to us. Will we allow that hurt to harden our hearts causing us to be cynical and critical? Or can we allow that wound to make us more tender than the genuine pain being endured by other believers so that we can love and serve them well? I think that it is obvious that the latter must be our aim.

The Lord Jesus also modeled for us that we should have this kind of humility of heart. He invites the weary and weak to come to Him for the true rest (Matthew 11:25-30). Jesus says that we need to learn from Him because He is gentle and humble of heart. Remember Jesus is the Christ. He is the anointed One who is sent to rule and reign but is showing us what greatness in His kingdom really means. My desire is to follow Jesus, so I have decided that I will devote myself to the upbuilding and edification of others, the advancement of the gospel regardless of circumstances, and to seek that which is to everyone's advantage. I’m looking for how we can all experience a win-win situation!

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