Ambition
The word ambition comes from a Latin word that means, campaigning for promotion. It would be like a candidate trying to get votes.
In the day and age in which we live, a self serving ambition is filling our ranks. A desire to campaign for positions, meetings, support or power. I have been in one too many positions where missionaries have been around a pastor and the self serving ambition fills the situation. Name dropping, fake laughter, mock humility, and “look what I have done” are just a few of the symptoms of this dreadful disease. Lucifer in Isaiah (14:12-15) had this problem. The builders of Babel (Genesis 11:4), Absalom (II Sam 15:4) and Diotrephes (III John 1:9) were also guilty.
Jeremiah 45:5, Baruch was warned that he should not seek great things for himself. While raising support, be careful that what you started for God’s glory does not turn into selfish ambition. Why will you make calls today? Why do you preach the way you do? How do you respond around other missionaries? Around other pastors? What lies within your heart today? Will you live to minister or be ministered unto (Mat 20:28)?
May we not forget God or our brothers as we seek to raise support. Be careful of campaigning for promotion (or support) today.
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