A Partnership!

Partnerships we make with others are important. They need to be made wisely so as to strengthen rather than detract from godly living. Partnerships need to be honorable in the eyes of God and man. However, there are also partnerships within ourselves that must be made to be effective to the glory of God.

Someone has said, “Ambition never gets anywhere until it forms a partnership with work.” [source: “1600 Squibs And Quips”, compiled by E. C. McKenzie]

We may set a goal. We may possess an aim. But what good is AMBITION without ACTION? Without ACTION there could be real question as to whether or not there is any AMBITION at all!

Paul exhorted the Christians at Thessalonica to continue in their love for one another…
“(11) and TO ASPIRE TO LIVE QUIETLY, and to MIND YOUR OWN AFFAIRS, and to WORK WITH YOUR HANDS, as we instructed you, (12) so that you may live properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.” ( 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 ESV)

The Greek translated in the ESV “to aspire” is a word which points to striving, being ambitious, or aiming. I think it is interesting that the KJV translates it “study”. Perhaps the idea behind that translation was to suggest the intensity of the focus. It was not a glance, but rather a deep look. The Greek word itself (“philotimeomai”) is a compound of “phileo” (brotherly love) and “time” (honor). Therefore, according to Strongs’s Lexicon, this could be literally translated as “to be fond of honor”.

Worthy AMBITION is honored when it is ACTED upon. And our AMBITION needs to be associated with worthy aims and actions. The way we live says something to those around us. We should be AMBITIOUS to live properly; involved in WORKS which reveal God’s Wisdom and Will. If we “love honor”, we ought to live to receive the honor of God for AIMING and ACTING honorably in all things in life. May we continually seek to make the partnership between AMBITION and ACTION honorable.

Have a great day AIMING AND ACTING HONORABLY BEFORE GOD AND MAN!
Carl

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