Sparky People
Is self ambition okay? Or is that even something to consider? I remember the three months I spent as a summer missionary in England years ago and the conversation I had with a guy at one of the churches we were helping. He felt compelled to explain what he thought was wrong with American Christians. We are too ambitious, and God doesn’t like that. We’re always planning what we are going to do and how we are going to do it. We should wait on the Lord. Radical. That’s what I thought about him.
If I didn’t have ambition, I don’t think I could get out of bed in the morning. But in one sense I see his point… every now and then. Because most of the time, I’m thinking and planning and dreaming and doing.
But read these verses with me and tell me what you think in the context of self-ambition: Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God. (11) Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow. Isa 50:10-11 Think on that!
In these verses, God is talking about what I call sparky people. They make stuff happen, and here, it’s not a good thing. That’s because in this context, the people are paving their own way, making their own mark, finding their own solutions—apart from God.
It reminds me of this verse: Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. Psa 20:7
Those who don’t know the Lord, of course are all about self-ambition, because God’s will and God’s path aren’t even in their thoughts. But many who don’t know the Lord accomplish great things through their ambition. Some develop drugs to cure cancer. Some find solutions through technology. Some engineer great inventions. What they dream and do can be magnificent. So, is there anything wrong with that?
To that, I would say that God gave some people tremendous talents and abilities to accomplish wonderful things, but not in a vacuum. Remember that in Him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28). And to the Israelites in Deuteronomy, He said: Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end; And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth…(Deut. 8:17-18a)
The Israelites sometimes served as examples of what happens when we go off on our own trails. But they aren’t alone. I sometimes do that, too. I can ride off on my own ideas and not consult God.
Isa 30:15-16 For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not. (16) But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.
The lesson is to humble myself before God. Submit to His will. Acknowledge Him and He shall direct my paths (Prov. 3:5-6) Do it at the beginning of the day before I plow ahead. This whole idea of submitting and humbling myself… that’s the topic for this week. Stay tuned. But for now, what do you think of self-ambition?