Our New Life In Christ (Series – 8)

We gain a new identity when we give our lives to Christ (2 Cor 5:17).  In these series, we have been studying the various manifestations of our sinful nature which we need to overcome by the power of the Holy Spirit now in us.

We have already examined the sins of sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, heresies, contentions, outbursts of wrath, jealousy and envy in our previous blogs.  In this post therefore, we will look at the sins of selfish ambition and seditions.  Let us refer once again to the Scripture in Galatians where all these works of the flesh are outlined.

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.  (Gal 5:19-21 NKJV Emphasis mine)

Selfish Ambition: While the King James Version of the Bible refers to this sin as Strife, some other versions refer to it as rivalries.  Nonetheless, the original word in the Greek translation is eritheia,  translated “mercenary self-seeking”.  This original translation of the word can therefore be explained as acting for one’s own gain, regardless of the discord or strife it causes.

From this etymology therefore, selfish ambition best captures this work of the flesh.  To be selfishly ambitious, is to be self-seeking; always seeking one’s own interest above anyone else’s.  A person who is selfishly ambitious projects himself and deploys his unique gift to push his personal agenda in an organisation regardless of the strife it causes or the factions it creates in that organisation.

Seditions: While the King James Version of the Bible refers to this sin as sedition, most other versions, refer to it as dissensions. The root word used in the original Greek translation however is dichostasia translated as standing apart.  With this original translation therefore, this work of the flesh can be explained as disagreements arising from an action or speech and inciting discontent or partisanship in a group.

The sins of selfish ambition and seditions both have to do with a projection of the self.  A careful look at the definitions and meanings above show that while the selfishly ambitious person’s actions are aimed at projecting himself, the seditious person creates partisanship in an organisation if he holds an opposing idea to what is accepted in that organisation.

So the underlying sin of pride is one that every believer needs to deal with.  For pride breeds contention wherever it is manifested.

Only by pride cometh contention: (Prov 13:10 KJV)

No doubt pride is listed as one of the six things that God hates in Proverbs chapter 6.  In the Scriptures, we read of King Saul, who could not stand the applause David was receiving from the women, for killing the giant Goliath.  For in his conceitedness, he believed that once he was the king, he deserved more applause, regardless.

So the women sang as they danced, and said: “Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.” Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?” So Saul eyed David from that day forward. (1 Sam 18:7-9 NKJV)

From that day onwards, Saul sought to kill David. Saul’s ambition was to reign as king of Israel for his entire life time whether or not he had God’s approval; and David seemed to be a threat to that ambition.

A believer who is self-ambitious places self-interest ahead of what the Lord declares right or what is good for others.  It is important for every child of God to keep the Scripture below in mind, in order to overcome pride and its related sins of self-ambition, jealousy and envy among others.

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.  Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. (Phillp 2:3-4 NKJV)

This is important because selfish ambition, if not checked from the onset, will lead a person to destroy himself.  We see that much as Saul tried, he was unable to kill David and only ended up destroying himself.  Similarly, Haman, thinking that no one apart from himself was worthy of honor from the king, ended up humiliating himself before Mordecai, the very person, he sought to destroy. (Esther 6)  The story of Adonijah (1 Kings 2) is also an example.

The Bible tells us that we are beautifully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14); and also tells us that each believer is in a race, not to compete with others, but to be able to obtain his or her own prize.  So the Scripture says:

Since we have such a huge crowd of men of faith watching us from the grandstands, let us strip off anything that slows us down or holds us back, and especially those sins that wrap themselves so tightly around our feet and trip us up; and let us run with patience the particular race that God has set before us.  (Hebrews 12:1, The Living Bible, Emphasis mine)

It is God who sets the race for each individual and it is He who thus determines the life span of each runner.  In this race, the runners do not compete against one another, and the aim is not to outdo another, rather, each person is to aim at getting to the finishing line.  So the apostle Paul says “run that you may obtain”.

It is God who decides and who knows those whose lives may be likened to a sprinter and those who may also be likened to long distance runners.  The important thing is for each individual to stay focused and aim at persevering to the end.

Oftentimes, where the selfish ambition is directed towards a peer or a colleague, it often leads to murder, however when it is directed at a higher authority, it culminates in seditions.

Indeed, a careful look at Scripture shows that the first sin in the world, was one of sedition – when Lucifer rebelled against God in the heavens.  So the Scripture says “six things God hates, the seventh, referring to “one who sows discord in a family” is an abomination (Proverbs 6).

When Lucifer rebelled, he did not only destroy himself, but several other angels in heaven who took to his side. (Ezekiel 28) Of him, Scripture says:

Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, you defiled your sanctuaries By the multitude of your iniquities, By the iniquity of your trading; Therefore I brought fire from your midst; It devoured you… (Ezek 28:17-18 NKJV)

Similarly, we read of Korah in Numbers chapter 16 who together with some other leaders of Israel opposed Moses, God’s appointed leader, and his spokesman Aaron.  As a punishment and deterrent, God caused the earth beneath them to split open and Korah together with all his aides were swallowed alive.

The story of Absalom, one of king David’s sons who led a revolt against his father David, is also an example of sedition.  As we read these biblical stories, we ought to remember that

…all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. (1 Cor 10:11 NKJV)

The sin of sedition still exists in our world today.  We see leaders in organisations oppose the set man there, sometimes creating factions and divisions in that organisation and ultimately destroying that establishment.  We see this happen in families, small groups, companies, governments and even church denominations.

Our God is a God of order and expects His children to honor those in authority over them.  AS the Scripture says:

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.  Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. (Romans 13:1-3 NKJV)

As children of God, we ought to rid ourselves of all pride. For pride is the root cause of selfish ambition and seditions.  We need to ask God to give us the mind of Christ, humble and lowly at heart so we will be able to live in peace with all men and give honor to all in authority especially elders who direct the affairs of God’s church. (1 Tim 5:17-18)

May the Lord help us all in this regard.

Stay connected for a continuation of this weekly teaching!

God bless you.