Attitude Makes All the Difference

For many years, the Roman army occupied the land of Palestine.  The Jews, understandably, could hardly stand it.  They so much hated it that there arose a group of people called the Zealots whose sworn mission was to cause havoc and turmoil with the express purpose of expelling the Romans.  There was one Roman law that especially incensed the Jews.  This law allowed for any Roman soldier to conscript a Jewish male to carry his backpack for him for one mile.  They dreaded this proposition.

One day a soldier came down the road and forced his pack upon a young man.  The man was angered almost to a boiling point.  He determined to make the one mile journey the worst thing that soldier had ever endured.  He berated the soldier.  He fumed and fussed the entire way.  At the mile marker, he slung the pack to the ground, spit at the man’s feet and turned away.

A little later down the road, the soldier forced another young man to carry his pack.  This time the soldier was prepared to be just as mean and nasty as the previous man had been to him.  However, to his surprise, this young man was excited to carry the pack.  He quizzed him about the many places he had traveled and the different things he had seen.  He told of his own desires to visit fabulous places.  Before the soldier realized it, they had traveled 2 miles.  It was as difficult for this young man to give up the pack as it was for the previous young man to take it.  Just what was the difference?  

These two young men carrying the pack of the soldier are very much like many Christians.  Some Christians do what they do because they are so focused on the requirement to do it.  They do great service.  They are obedient.  However, they do not enjoy their service.  They seem angry and uninterested in the very things they are doing.  They are negative in their interactions with other Christians.  They are quick to criticize and complain.  They are just not joyful.  

There are other Christians who are doing great service for the Lord.  But, their service is so much different.  They are aware of the requirement to serve and they are obedient.  However, they enjoy what they are doing.  They are pleasant to be around.  They are passionately involved in their service.  They are so positive with their words as they talk about the various works of the church.  They are the picture of joyful Christians!

These Christians are happy and joyful!  They volunteer.  They organize.  They lead.  Their fellow Christians love being around them.  They add helpful criticism and expect things to get better.  They view the requirement of service to God through the eyes of how they have been served by God.  That is the difference.

Jesus said, “Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.” (Matthew 5:41).  The two-mile distance for the second man was shorter and more pleasant than was the one-mile distance for the first man.  Its all about attitude!  Attitude makes the journey easier and the load lighter!

— Mike Johnson