Attitude is defined as a position or manner indicative of feeling, opinion, or intention toward a person or thing. We need to be careful with our attitudes, for we may commit sin by our attitude without physical action. This sin is one that only God may know.
We need to be careful in our attitudes about ourselves. We can let our ego get the best of us. Paul wrote a warning concerning this attitude, “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:” (Rom. 12:3, 4). Again, in the letter to the Galatians he said, “For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself” (Gal. 6:3). Those who manifest this attitude do not show forth the attitude of our Lord. This attitude seen in Christians surely warms the heart of Satan.
Our attitudes toward our enemies should also be guarded. Jesus said, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” (Matt. 5:44). Jesus is telling us to seek good for all, even our enemies. Failure to do this can lead to more sin on our part. Paul taught us how to deal with our enemies, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:19-21). This way of dealing with enemies is foreign to the world but should be a standard in the lives of Christians.
The attitude we exhibit toward others can also be dangerous. Since we all are human beings, from time to time we may have differences. This is seen in God’s word several times. The herdsmen of Abraham and Lot had problems, Paul and Barnabas had problems, even Peter and Paul had differences. The world’s answer to differences between people many times is malice, bitterness, lack of a forgiving spirit, fault-finding, etc; God does not want His children acting like the world, in any matter!
This sin may be hid from most everyone, but God knows, and it is put on ones account as a sin. We also realize even though we may not want to admit it, having thoughts such as this is wrong.