1Thessalonians 4:11-12Bro. James W. Adams once jokingly remarked that a preacher who shot over 90 in golf was working too

hard and needed to get out more.But the he also added that a preacher who was

shooting under 90 was playing too much golf and needed to concentrate more on his work!

That’s a slim margin of acceptability.In that same vein, isn’t it interesting that we usually

look with disfavor upon someone with“no ambition”

but also are often critical of the “ambitious”?I’m not exactly sure where the happy medium might be

for most folks with regard to “ambition,” but I do want us to look briefly at what Paul wrote about it in

“Ambition” 1Thessalonians 4:11-12

Perhaps our inconsistency with regard to ambition goes back to how to the word is defined.

It is translated from the Greek φιλοτιμεομαι [philotimeomai /fil·ot·im·eh·om·ahee/] and means 1 to be fond of honor

1A to be actuated by love of honor. 1B from a love of honor to strive to bring

something to pass. 2 to be ambitious.

2A to strive earnestly, make it one’s aim.

“Ambition” 1Thessalonians 4:11-12

Obviously, the term is being used in our text as “to strive earnestly, make it one’s aim” of life.

So for what should we be striving and aiming with our lives? (Remember, “If we aim and nothing, we can usually hit it every time!”)

1) LEAD A QUIET LIFE.“QUIET” does not here mean the absence of noise as

much as the absence of excessive activity; rest; not running hither and thither, but staying at home and minding your business.

It could be fairly defined as “settling down.” 2Thess.3:12

“Ambition” 1Thessalonians 4:11-12

2) ATTEND TO YOUR OWN BUSINESS.Surely this is the opposite of being a “busybody” and

minding everyone else’s business. Literally, to be busy with one’s own business, 1Tim.5:13; 1Pet.4:15

3) WORK WITH YOUR HANDS.This is the equivalent of “idle hands are the Devil’s

workshop”.It is not commanding that everyone dig ditches, but

is instead commending industry over laziness, 2Thess.3:6-15; Eph.4:28.

“Ambition” 1Thessalonians 4:11-12

4) BEHAVE.Our parents told us to “behave” when we were young

and they were our source of authority. When they said it, we always knew what we were doing wrong without them specifying.

As we mature, the Lord becomes our source of authority tells us the same thing, Rom.13:13; Col.4:5!

5) DON’T BE IN ANY NEED.This does not negate passages such as Gal.6:2,10 or Acts

6:1 (et al).It is saying that we ought have self-reliance and financial

independence as our goal, Gal.6:3-5.

WHAT’S YOUR AMBITION IN LIFE?IS IT TO:

SETTLE DOWNTEND TO YOUR OWN BUSINESSWORK TO SUPPORT YOURSELF AND YOURSSO THAT YOU WANT BE IN NEED BUT CAN

INSTEAD HELP OTHERS?1THESSALONIANS 4:11-12 SAYS THAT THESE

OUGHT TO BE OUR “AMBITION”!