Ambition versus Contentment

I've often said that someone should write a book on principles in scripture that tug against one another.

A perfect example would be Ambition versus Contentment.

A christian is instructed throughout the bible to be content. The apostle Paul wrote about contentment. Jesus spoke about it personally. Proverbs and Ecclesiastes speaks to contentment. What about all the other verses in the bible that instruct us to work hard. He who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God (Luke 9:62). Seest a man diligent in his work and he will stand before kings( Prov 22:29). If anyone does not provide for his family he is worse than an infidel(1 Tim 5:8).

So where does this leave us. BALANCE. Like many other principles in scripture we must balance our personal desires and wishes for more with a healthy ambition to work and provide. I think we too often err on the side of contentment. We want more. We keep up with the Joneses. We are never content with what we have. We hear messages from the pulpit and books that focus on contentment. You brought nothing into the world and will take nothing from it. TRUE. However, let's look at the opposite side of this coin. There are those who rebuke ambitious Christians as discontent. Driven by money. It's harder for the rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven ..... My question is this. Do those who rebuke the man with healthy ambition, bring judgement on themselves? Are they tithing? Are they supporting God's harvest workers with gifts and offerings? Are they lazy and slothful and use contentment as an excuse to avoid production? These are good questions to consider.

I say have a healthy ambition. Try and accumulate money for the purpose of enjoying it, but more importantly for giving it away. Peter J Daniels says money can't have power over you if you keep giving it away. Bill Ice says money is an amplifier of the heart- it makes a good man better and a bad man worse. Doug Wead says empty plates don't feed starving people- it takes work. It takes money. Wead often jokes about his upbringing as a minister's son. To paraphrase he says jokingly, his family was always thankful for the rich church members who funded their church and ministries. He says it was nice of them to voluntarily go to hell so that the ministry could be funded. What would our churches and ministries be without the seeds sown into them by the tithes of the ambitious workers and businesses. I've never met a missionary who was ashamed to ask for money or who is not overjoyed to receive support. They know that God will provide- it just happens that he uses you and I to do it.

Are you or your business doing all it can to Build the Kingdom. It takes time and it takes money. You can't take it with you so let's give it to those who have the time to minister, witness and evangelize. God called some to preach, teach, minister, administrate and give along with many other gifts. Let's make sure we're working together as one body with many parts. Let's not judge the brother who is working to fund the kingdom or the brother who gives more of his time than his money. They are both needed! Let's also not forget that money will not satisfy, but that God does want us to enjoy his blessings.