Promotion or Devotion?

One of the most common Scriptures that I hear quoted is Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." It is a powerful, motivational and great claim to grab on to this truth! The concern I have is that most of the time I hear people quoting it they are speaking of "all things" in reference to their worldly ambitions. Is this you? Do you say, "I will get that promotion, or I will achieve this goal"? 

The word ambition comes from the Latin word meaning "campaigning for promotion." I have often thought of myself as an ambitious guy. When I was 18 I couldn't sleep one night thinking about what I was going to do with my life. The year before was the year of 9/11 when our towers fell because of terrorist's ambition. I got out of bed and researched online about the military. The next day I spoke with a recruiter. The next week I enlisted in the Marine Corp. I was very ambitious. I think I even remember saying, "I can do this through Christ who strengthens me." It is true that Christ could strengthen me to serve in our nations military but was he asking me to that or was I simply compelled by my own ambition? I've learned that the later is true. A year later God provided a way out of this commitment that I had made and through a series of events I ended up in my first ministry position as a youth pastor. 

The amazing thing to understand is that Paul was referring to living a life of being content without in any situation. Read vv.10-12 to see what I mean. Never single out a verse and claim it apart from it's context. 

Think of how this applies to a believer's service to the kingdom of God and the body of Christ. Are we really ready to be a servant as Christ was a servant. "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life..." (Mk 10:45). Oswald Chambers said, "It is one thing to follow God's way of service if you are regarded as a hero, but quite another if the road marked out for you by God requires becoming a doormat under other people's feet" (Utmost for His Highest; Feb. 5th). Are we servants when in all circumstances or just the easy ones? I pray all! 

It is not wrong to want better. Ambition is no sin. The sin is in the heart of the ambitious. By what are we compelled? Promotion or devotion? J Oswald Sanders said, "Ambition which centers on the glory of God and welfare of the church is a mighty force for good" (Spiritual Leadership, p.13). Chambers asks, "Are you willing to give and be poured out until you are used up and exhausted - not seeking to be ministered to but to minister?" (Feb. 5th).

It is this type of service Jesus was talking about when he said, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" (Mt 16:24). I believe it is this type of servant who can truly cling to the proclamation "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil. 4:13). 

Blessings! 

Copyright: Jonathan Spencer, 2009.