Title: 'Godly Ambition''

Title: 'GODLY AMBITION'/Mx - Visual Prayer Art from Collection by Rev.Bola A

Dearest,

Are you ambitious?

Would you like to be ambitious? Is ambition a good thing? 

Is there a burning desire in you to achieve a particular result? 

Are you on a particular mission in life for something or someone?

What does the Word of God teach about ambition?"
 

 Ambition is defined as “an acute thrust for success or power; a desire to attain honor, riches or popularity.” To be ambitious, in the temporal sense, is basically to be driven to have more than your neighbor. It's slogan is “he with the most playthings gets ahead”; 

ambition in the worldly sense endeavors to be number one. 

However, in the Bible, the Term 'ambition' takes on a completely new attribute: 

“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to attend to your personal affairs and to work with your hands …” (1 Thessalonians 4:11; cf. Philippians 1:17; Ephesians 5:8-10).

Where the world teaches us to  outdo, to have a larger house, a smarter car, a bigger paycheck than our fellows, the Bible instructs us in the reverse: “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself” (Philippians 2:3). The apostle Paul tells us, “Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him” (2 Corinthians 5:9). 

The Greek word for “ambition,” philotim, means literally “to esteem as an honor.” Being ambitious, in and of itself, is not wrong, it’s what we respect or honor that can be an issue. The Bible instructs that we ought be ambitious, yet the purpose is to be recognized by Jesus Christ, not by the temporal existence. Christ taught us that to be first in the Kingdom is to become a servant (Matthew 20:26-28; Matthew 23:11-12).

Paul once presented an insightful question: “Am I currently attempting to acquire the commendation of men, or of God? Or am I attempting to satisfy men?” His answer: “If I were still attempting to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10). Afterwards, Paul repeated: “On the contrary, we speak as men sanctioned by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not attempting to delight men but God, who examines our hearts” (1 Thessalonians 2:4). Paul is asserting a reality promulgated by Jesus Himself: “How can you believe if you accept congratulations from one another, yet establish no attempt to incur the congratulations that derives from the sole Supreme Being?” (John 5:44). We have to determine, what our aspiration is: to delight God or to delight man?

The Bible distinctly instructs that, those who look for accolade and repute from men, cannot believe in Christ (Matthew 6:24; Romans 8:7; James 4:4). Those whose dream, is to be popular with the world, cannot be genuine, dedicated servants of Jesus Christ. If our aspiration is to merely chase the affairs of earthly concern (1 John 2:16; Romans 13:14), in reality, we are being self-serving, and abnegating Jesus and His sacrifice (Matthew 10: 33; Matthew 16:24). But if it is our aspiration to seek and respect Christ, we are guaranteed of His profound assurance: “But seek primarily his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will supplied to you” (Matthew 6:33; cf. 1 John 2:25).

It is not wrong to be ambitious, but our motives and our plans must be determined and directed by God.

You may wish to say this prayer with me now:-

My Prayer 

for Godly Ambition

Dear God,

May Thy Will alone, 

And not mine nor

Any other will,

Be done on earth, 

And in me,

                                       As it is in the heavens.
                                                   Amen.

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Deep Inner Peace ...Rev.Bola A

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