The church today increasingly resembles the world system as we peddle the same ‘motivational’,’inspirational’ & ‘self-help’ philosophies which provide strategies & steps to ‘gaining prosperity’, ‘rising to the top’, ‘making your dreams a reality’, ‘Richest man in Babylon’, Rich Dad Poor Dad’…and so on….without eschewing the negatives of such principles…after all the end justifies the means.
Whilst not condemning these texts nor denying that something tangible can be learnt from them or even denying the fact that some of these principles aren’t necessarily bad things to imbibe in the natural, what is at issue here though is this:
Kingdom people are ‘in this world’ but not ‘of this world’ thus we cannot rely nor operate on principles within the secular world system.
From a thorough study of the lives of Joseph, David, Moses, Daniel, Gideon & Nehemiah, a pattern for Christian ambition begins to emerge! Our foremost & biggest ‘ambition’ like these patriarchs of old should be a kingdom oriented one!
The number one ambition Christians are to have (not as unbelievers who chase ambitions from carnal flesh) is seeking first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness…which can also be translated as Knowing God’s will for our lives and walking therein. Once we are not walking in the will of GOD for our lives, we are walking in self-will and are biblically regarded as ‘rebellious’.
Joseph, David, and Daniel in their time were ‘lifted’ by God from the dunghill to the very pinnacle of power, wealth, and fame on earth. I say ‘lifted by God’ because they never actually sought the top for themselves, nor ever even solicited God to ‘lift me up’. Their primary concern was to matters of the kingdom even at the expense of their own ‘wants’.
A closer study of their lives closely reveal these common threads & keywords in their paths to enthronement.
With Joseph it was:–
- ‘found favour’….’was made’….’authority was committed to him’..’was sent for’ & brought’, ‘was set over’……ref: Gen 39 – Gen 41
With David it was:-
- “send and bring him” “send me your son” “and they came and anointed him King”, “the elders came and made him king”1 Sam 16:11, 1 sam 16:19. 2 Sam 5:3
With Daniel it was also:-
- “Then the king promoted Daniel” “and made him ruler”, “They clothed Daniel, & made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be 3rd ruler in the Kingdom”
In the Kingdom, there is a more excellent & effortless way! A way of ‘go & bring him! A way of ‘let us make him’, A way of ‘he found favor & all was committed to him’.
This should be our testimony as it concerns rising in this secular world! And GOD is fully capable and desirous of bringing it to pass concerning us as long as we are ready to follow his way and show forth ‘the praises of him who has called out of darkness into his marvelous light’.
Kingdom employees and entrepreneurs do not bother with the ‘rat race’ and how to get ahead, rather :
- Like Joseph they work as though they are working unto the Lord not human masters …Col 3:23
- Like David they do not murder Saul (their current boss) in the cave of Adullam (their hearts) in order that they may get ahead.
- Like Nehemiah they do not ‘settle on their lees’ Jer 48:11 and enjoy their comfort zones whilst the walls of Jerusalem and the temple of God lay in shambles…
- Like Daniel they refuse to defile themselves with the Kings portion.(-ve company culture), figuring themselves to be ambassadors of the Kingdom and temples of the living God.
- Like Joseph they refuse to sleep with Potiphar’s wife and engage in anything that could bring the name of their true master into disrepute.
- Like Nehemiah when they eventually come into a promotion, they do not use their new position to oppress their subordinates, rather as masters they make a conscious effort to treat their subordinates justly and fairly knowing that they also have a master in heaven.
Ultimately they ‘humble themselves before the Lord, focus on bringing ‘thy kingdom come’ in their spheres of influence and wait on him to lift them up in honor. For they truly understand that except the Lord builds a house, they labor in vain that build it.
More grace to us all.
The Revealed Word. 