Do Everything in the Name of Jesus by Jason G. Lutz

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17)

Ambition is a strange word for the follower of Christ. We could rightly say that there is a paradox between ambition and spirituality. We know that all things are vain outside of the Father’s will; yet, we persist in things outside the Father’s will. We know that the rich young ruler went away sad, as riches and accomplishment are often tied to one another in our perspective; yet, each person reading this desires more financial certainty (do not deny it!). How do we go forward in this paradox?

Do we seek find balance between accomplishment and spirituality? A wise counsel once suggested to me that the pursuit of balance only creates one more thing which a person has to manage and concern themselves with. Beyond this, I really cannot find Scriptural evidence to build a strong case for balance in life; our Lord seems to desire all of us for His Kingdom. Should we pour our ambition into church matters? Perhaps some rightly do, as some are called to this. Still it seems that, unless the call is pervasive, this is exactly how Pharisees are created. Do we denounce personal ambition? I do not think we can, as giving up our ambition seems very close to giving up hope. Where are we when we stop wanting to accomplish things and seeing dreams fulfilled?

I think the best guidance is from my beloved mother, who I wish I had listened to much earlier in life, “if you are going to do it, do it with excellence”. We need to understand something. While others can and do hold influence over us, they hold no real power over us. We are sanctified, set apart, for the Kingdom of God and it is Jehovah whom we serve. I specifically use the name Jehovah, as our Father consistently shows throughout His word that – in His redemptive love – He quite enjoys pushing and pulling His people beyond what they believe themselves capable of. He pulls us into the realm of Trust, where He molds us into something we have yet to consider. In this we must also trust that He molds our ambitions into His ambition, which is for the good of His Kingdom. Can there be any other definition of excellence?

Bilbo may not have wanted to leave the Shire, but there was a part of him that desired the Adventure. This desire allowed him to serve something much greater than himself, all while becoming something he never dreamt he could or would be. Providence in and of itself is an ambitious thing.