ENVIRONMENT

Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe – Philippians 3:1

ENVIRONMENT is the first influencer of our belief system. It is perhaps a greater controlling factor in attitude development than our personality or other inherited traits. The foundation of an attitude is laid in the environment to which we were born. Environment becomes even more significant when we realize that the beginning attitudes are the most difficult to change. For parents who adopt children for example, their children may not physically resemble them; they certainly are molded by the environment in which they are reared. This is the notion of nurture, in contrast to nature. It is the environment of early childhood that cultivates the “belief systems” of most human beings. The child almost automatically assimilates beliefs, interests, philosophies, priorities, and values from his or her environment.

Moreover, what we really believe affects our attitude, even if it is false, untrue, unhealthy, or having a tendency to harm, hurt or even destroy. Attitudes are reinforced by beliefs, right or wrong. Although Christianity does not immune us to the influence of our environment, and we may never have absolute control over our environments, but as we grow up, we do have the capability and responsibility over the environment we permit to take root and thrive within us. We are individually responsible for our view of life. Sometimes the prison of discontent has been built by our own hands, and the world doesn’t care whether we free ourselves from this prison or not. Adopting a positive, healthy attitude toward life does not affect society nearly as much as it affects us. The change cannot come from others. It must come from us.

Thank God, Jesus came to set us free from every kind of prison. Paul, who was not a stranger to prisons, repeatedly taught us by his life and writings, that we help create our environment – spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical – by the attitude we develop. This unique apostle overcame am awful background to ultimately fulfil his life’s vision and mission. He told Timothy that he was the “chief of sinners.” But after his conversion he was infused with desire to know Christ more intimately. Rather than waiting for someone else to spur him, he pursued this desire with passion. Neither did he look backward and whine about his terrible past. He diligently pressed on to lay hold of Jesus. He declared with single-minded purpose: “…but one thing I do: forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phi.3:13-14).

It is unrealistic to expect that we’ll tailor-make all situations to fit our lives perfectly. But it is possible to tailor-make our attitudes to fit. Paul fittingly demonstrated this truth while he was imprisoned in Rome. In the dark atmosphere and cold climate of his confinement, he wrote to the church at Philippi brightly declaring, “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord…” (Phi.3:1a); and “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say rejoice!” (Phi.4:4). What an Attitude! The confined man was encouraging the carefree people to rejoice. What was his secret? That is found later in the same chapter (vs.11-13). Verse 13 summarizes these: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Paul had learned and developed the ability to tailor-make his attitude to his life situation, and consistently display a positive outlook. By the same grace, you can re-create your environment by the attitude you develop and nurture within you, rather than being a victim of life’s circumstances.