“Come Monday; it’ll be alright. Come Monday; I’ll be holding you tight.” Jimmy Buffet sang these lyrics back in 1974. I was a sophomore in high school and can sing the words by heart when I hear his unique voice on the XM station 70’s on 7. It is Monday, and it will be alright. But on this Monday, what is it that you holding tight?
I know folks that are holding tight to their money.
I know folks that are holding tight to their hurt feelings.
I know folks that are holding tight to their gossip.
I know folks that are holding tight to their past.
I know folks that are holding tight to their fears.
But I also know that Monday is the short version of a new year. It’s an opportunity to drop your fears, your past, your hurt, your gossip circle, and your pride. It is a new start to a new workweek. But you have to choose what it is that you will hold tight. Today, on this Monday, choose the counterintuitive attitude of joy, peace, contentment and selfless service.
In yesterday’s 11:00 am service at Sugar Hill Church, I taught on Philippians 2:1-11.
The New Living Translation puts verses 3-5 this way: “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.”
You get to choose your attitude today. Anybody can whine and complain about Monday, but why choose to be anybody, when you can choose to be the best possible you? Why hang on to pettiness, pain, and pity, when you can choose the attitude of Jesus? This isn’t about how religious you are. As a matter of fact, the more religious you choose to be, the less likely you are to take hold of the attitude of Jesus.
Maybe we need to answer the question in verse two: “Are your hearts tender and compassionate?” Choose wisely when you choose today’s attitude because it’s Monday, and we need everything to be alright. So, one more reminder of how we are to set our attitude; “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.”
My revision of Jimmy Buffet’s next line, goes like this; I’ve spent four lonely days in a funk and a phase, and I just want to be back by His side.” Yep, you’re right, it would have been cool if all the Parrotheads out there could sing it that way!
It’s Monday, and it’ll be alright!
Stay Cool,
Chuck
