WORTHY AMBITION

I Was Just Thinking About - - - 

It seems as though the media is saturated with reports about celebrities and their ambitions. Actors, politicians, athletes and newscasters become personalities that are constantly before the public. There are times when one of the basic childhood rules should be practiced, “Silence is golden!” However, certain people have the propensity for making comments about every detail and nuance of life. It matters little whether it is some local event that has occurred or an international crisis that is taking place, they believe the population of communities and nations are sitting on the edge of their seats just waiting to hear them pontificate about events as they interpret them. The media is complicit as well with their blaring banners and approach when they use terms such as “Breaking News” or “Exclusive Interview.” As one changes the Channel or Station, nearly all are claiming to have the official “Breaking News” and “Exclusive Interview,” Depending on who is reported or being interviewed, many times their words can inflame or exacerbate a situation. Facts become sacrificed to opinion or bias. Little consideration is given for a time to implement the words of wisdom in Proverbs 17:27, “The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.”

When it comes to The Church and those who dominate the stage of religion, there is a word for the servant of the Lord in Ecclesiastes 5:1-2, “Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil. Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few.” The Apostle Paul was very clear in terms of what motivated him to speak and the topics he addressed. An insight into his ministry approach is given in I Corinthians 2:1-7, “And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.mWe do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we declare God’s wisdom.”

Those who dominate the religious platform and stage with their rhetoric and dogmatism about world events can and do cause delusion and discouragement among people who constitute their audience. Misrepresentations are repeated and become more diluted as they are repeated. As world events unfold and are interpret as being the end times, the delusion expands. It is at this juncture that one should give consideration to that which Paul shared in I Thessalonians 2:9-12, “The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” The Lord expects His people to be knowledgeable of His Word and to abide by what it teaches and instructs. Men and their interpretations can gain them popularity and allow them to sell many books. Their popularity and interpretations should never be allowed to usurp one’s personal study of God’s Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit in to all of God’s truth. 

That which is lacking are those of whom it can be said: (1) This person walked with God (Enoch); (2) This person believed God and it was credited to him/her as righteousness (Abraham); (3) This person followed the Lord God wholeheartedly (Caleb); (4) This person lived an exemplary life before God “By faith” (Hebrews 11). There’s plenty of room and space for there to be an increasing number of people to be so identified before the Lord. One illustration that stands out is indicated in The Book of Job (1:1), “There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.” Because of the consistency of his life and his reverent walk before the Lord, the devil even took notice of his exemplary life. In Job 1:8-10, we note: “And the Lord said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? Then Satan answered the Lord and said, Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.” One of the things needed more than ever before are godly people who walk with fear before the Lord and who desire God’s hedge around them and their family. Is this your goal and worthy ambition? Consider these things with me!