A Good Enough Attitude Results In A Mediocre Effort

[hldude]

"A Good Enough Attitude Results In A Mediocre Effort"
By Zach Wood
Colossians 3:1-3
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

I keep asking myself this question. How in the world can I expect incredible things to happen in my life if I am only willing to have a “good enough†attitude? It’s like I’m expecting God to do something more amazing to me and with me while only giving a half-hearted effort. If I am not able to put my whole heart into everything I do and do it to the best of my ability, then I cannot expect great results. That’s when I need to do a self-evaluation of my attitude and heart.

As Christians, our lives are now with Christ. We are no longer our own, but bought by the blood of Christ! We must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ. Anytime our mind is focused on the things of this world, we take our eyes off of Christ, mediocrity can settle in and that results in problems. We end up giving a mediocre effort when we are not focused on what God desires. If we focus on Christ, our "good enough" attitude turns into a "give it our all" attitude!

We are called to praise God in every situation we encounter. No matter what we encounter, God challenges us to give Him thanks and to be a witness. However, we are human and we often fall into a slump where we don’t feel like trying.

There are many reasons we can fall into the slump of having an attitude that gives mediocre results:

Fatigue
Uncertainty of life
Things weighing you down at home/work/school/church
Not having any goals in life set

These and other things can result in our mood shifting to not caring about much and just doing enough to get the job done at work, at home, at church, at school and then going off to do your own thing. It’s normal sometimes to feel like you don’t care about anything. We all fall into that mode at times. However, if we stay in that “good enough†mentality, it will affect our lives dramatically.

I encourage all of us to remember that we must set our minds and hearts on things above, not on the material, earthly things that will not last. We need to go from "good enough" to "giving our all". Why? Because God gave so much more and didn't have a "good enough" attitude.

He gave us His all, so why can't we give our all?

 

[Danus]

Moved to General Talk. Could fit in A&T but for now GT, as the OP is not seeking advice.

 

[Navigator]

I encourage all of us to remember that we must set our minds and hearts on things above, not on the material, earthly things that will not last. We need to go from "good enough" to "giving our all". Why? Because God gave so much more and didn't have a "good enough" attitude.

He gave us His all, so why can't we give our all?

Not disagreeing, but clarifying that we have the "give it our all" attitude for the right reasons. You mentioned earlier we were bought with the blood of Christ. That is a crucial part of the Gospel. In "giving it our all," we should be doing so because of the great love God showed by giving Jesus, and the ultimate sacrifice Jesus gave for us. We do not have to give it our all to gain any favor from God. That would be an entirely different Gospel, and Jesus' sacrifice would be for nothing. We aren't called to better ourselves and THEN we can receive grace...it was already given to us. I'm sure you have this concept down already..I was almost reaffirming that for myself.

 

[for_his_glory]

Colossians 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Colossians 3:3 For ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Colossians 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Colossians 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
Colossians 3:6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
Colossians 3:7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
Colossians 3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
Colossians 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
Colossians 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Colossians 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Colossians 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Colossians 3:14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Colossians 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.