It’s healthy to be eager, motivated and desire to get ahead and achieve righteous goals. It is wise, though, to monitor our motivations. Sometimes we don’t see how wrong motives can be deeply hidden; and mask hidden agendas. The Lord will test our integrity and motives, and bless those of the right heart condition; those Christ-like.
RELEVANCE
There was once a successful TV show, “Truth or Consequences.” It ran from 1950 -1974. Contestants were asked silly trick questions which they typically failed to answer correctly. If they failed to tell the truth they would have to pay the consequences; typically stunts which were funny, but more often they were also embarrassing.
Today, in our “just do it” culture, we don’t always think of the consequences of our actions. God, however, still watches our show. He still considers truth and integrity to be moral standards. He watches our actions, considers our heart and rewards us accordingly.
“Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:1-4).
REFLECT AND RELATE
Take an ambition inventory. Divide the paper in half; one side for pure ambitions, the other for questionable ones. Consider actions you have displayed. Mull it over and ask God to weigh in.
REFERENCES
Psalm 75:6