2Co 5:9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it
our aim to please him. 2Co 5:10 For we
must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive
what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
The word translated “aim” or “labor” (KJV) literally means
to love honor. It is used for the idea
of ambition, the goals ones has in life.
Paul isn’t speaking of being at home or away on a trip but the context
is whether imperfectly in this body or perfectly in the Lord’s presence he only
has one goal; pleasing God.
The word “ambition” generally has a bad connotation in
Christianity because it usually is used to speak of someone who is consumed
with a goal he has set for himself that has little to do with God and
everything to do with doing what he wants to do. The term “blind ambition” speaks to someone
who is so consumed with his goal that he can’t see the negative effects it is
having on his life. Blind ambition that
sets its goals on temporal things will always lead to compromise in convictions
and character. But Paul uses this word
many times in a good way and it isn’t difficult to see this in the above
verses. Our first duty and highest goal
is to glorify the Lord. From this we
understand that every other goal or pursuit in life must be subservient to that
one. This is easy to say but it is also
easy to get twisted in our thinking.
Clearly everyone has goals in life that aren’t overtly
spiritual, such as a man looking for a job so he can have a family. In fact, both the job and the family are both
worthy goals. But all such goals must be
subservient to the ultimate goal to serve the Lord or they immediately become
idols regardless of their legitimacy.
As in the example above, a man might set his aim in life in
a certain career and say that it is to support his family and the church. These are things that we to do in life and
both are important for our wellbeing physically, emotionally and
spiritually. But if said career keeps
him from having a proper relationship with his wife and family and keeps him
away from church and from ministering to both groups then any attempt to
justify it by saying it is for God’s glory is just vain talk. Clearly his ambition is neither his family
nor the Lord but himself.
I can’t number the men that I have known through the years
that have justified working on Sundays and long hours in which they are unable
to have a proper relationship with their wives and children and in which they
are basically strangers to the other members of the church by saying, “Well, I
have to support my family, or the job requires it or I have committed myself to
this company and I can’t let them down, I don’t want to be a quitter.”
Well what about your commitment to Christ, his Body and your
family? What is the point of this job if
you all you can do is feed and clothe your family but the relationship falls
apart? My answer would be that it is
time to quit your job and find one that fits into your goal of seeking the
kingdom of God first and his righteousness.
If it means you have to live in a meager house and drive an older car so what. Some might say but I went to
school for this or this is what I want to do in life. Well, we can’t always have what we want in
this life that is part of taking up our cross and following Christ. If being “fulfilled” in a career is the most important
thing and worth giving up everything else then I don’t know what Jesus meant
when he said to take up your cross and follow me. At the end of the day what are your goals in
life? If it is about the Lord’s work
your decisions will be made based on what serves him and your spiritual life
and your family’s spiritual life the best.
What good is it to live in a mansion on earth but have no room in Heaven
for eternity?
If your goal in life is a career, don’t be surprised when
your marriage fails, your children are a disappointment (they turn out like
you), you think church is a waste of time because it isn’t making you money and
one day you might hear, “Depart from me I never knew you”! Paul’s aim was to please Christ. If this is our aim we will bring our lives
under control to that end, not the selfish ends of our own desires.
You cannot express a greater love to your wife and family
than to lead them to Christ and help to build them up in the faith and this
even before you provide for their physical needs. If we can have a great career and have
financial success in this life and use it to further Christ in our life and
that of our family then praise the Lord.
But if it is our highest goal it is simple idolatry.
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