WORLDLY AMBITION!

WORLDLY AMBITION!

Mark 9:33-35

33 And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?

34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.

35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

John 13:4-6

4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.

5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?

Luke 22:24-26

24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.

25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.

26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

          Ambition has a positive side. Our culture of listless and shiftless masses could use a bit of ambition but this is more about a healthy work ethic than the kind of ambition mentioned in our verses above. Peter, James and John were hard working fisherman. Matthew was a tax collector and Luke was a physician. Each one of the disciples seemed to understand the need for the right kind of ambition.

          Ambition also has a negative side. When our desire to become first causes us to scheme against our brother and to sabotage his enterprises it is destructive. The Apostles disputed as to which of them would be the greatest as they walked the dusty trail to Capernaum. Jesus asks them what they were arguing about because their worldly ambition needed to be challenged.

          We see this in the great chambers of commerce across our land. Business owners gather for self-congratulation ostensibly for the benefit of the community but there is always an undercurrent of wrestling ambition. It is subtle because it is usually painted with a heavy coat of community pride but all the ribbon cutting has more to do with grappling ambition than community development.

          Alas, we too often see it in churches where one or two members have chosen the church as their platform for personal promotion. The mother of James and John came to Jesus asking that her sons sit on either side of Jesus in his kingdom (Matthew 20:21). She did not ask that her sons be crucified with him on His left and right.

          Raging ambition always damages relationships; always causes disputes. Think of all the things you have collected and are now hoarding. Which of these will you take with you to heaven? Now think of all the friends and family that are dear to you and you to them no matter how far flung they may be. These, if they are saved, will be with you throughout eternity. Do you see the true value here? Struggle then, if struggle you must, to maintain and enlarge your collection of relationships. Live and speak so that these relationships will last beyond the grave.

Dear Lord, let me be an ambitious gatherer of friends. AMEN