Wednesday, February 18, 2009

AMBITION: FOR WHAT PURPOSE?

I write to those early in their years of kingdom service. Some may be employed by the church. Others may not; but serve and sacrifice every bit as diligently. A lot goes on in the privacy of self which can provide some moments of delight while offer other times of shame. As simple as we believe ourselves to be on one side; we surely are complex on the other.

An important element of every servant is our ambition factor. James 3:13-18 speaks specifically about it. If selfish it is evil; demonic James specifies. If surrendered it is divine. And so we go about tossing the coin and jumping some of our hoops hoping/desiring/preferring to get it right.

Ambition can be tough to hold still. From one angle it can wreck a church because one begins to use his ambition to manipulate and restrict the rest. On the other hand we can be critical of any who don't possess it accusing such as lazy and lethargic.

Correct ambition must necessarily be couched in wisdom prayed for from here and delivered from heaven. It cannot be processed from any earthy philosophy or whim. Only from above will such be acceptable.

Oddly, when it is from above peace and productivity seem amazingly simple as well as unexplainable. I urge you to seek to place each ambition within the treasured wisdom sought in prayer. Sow life into your work by tilling your fields with prayer plows. Ambition is remarkable when authentic in motive and received from above.

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