God has a purpose for all of our lives. It is only God’s purpose that prevails over those plans. (See Proverbs 19:21 NIV). There are various other verses of scripture which on the surface, seem to support the notion that we can come-up with any plan we like, and if it is something that will benefit us and other people, then we can confess it into being. For instance, Psalms 20:4 NIV, Proverbs 16:9 NIV.
We need to remember that God has a plan for our lives that we cannot replace with our own plans. What leads to our own plans and desires to come out of line with God, is the impressions that the subconscious mind has gained over the years.
According to the beliefs instilled in the subconscious mind, all sorts of plans and ideas will emerge from the heart of man. Some of the ways that we can know that these are true, is whether they come to pass or not and whether we have a feeling of peace about it or a sense of lust, wanting and a fear that we might not be able to have it. This is what the Bible calls selfish ambition.
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
Philippians 2:3 nkjv
It is assumed that selfish ambition includes anything which benefits the believer personally. This seems to be an assumption adopted by Christians who attend legalistic churches, were the focus is on helping others, even to the neglect and detriment of the individual.
God does delight in our prosperity, He loves us and He is for us. But this does not mean that we can dictate to God how and when He should bless us. Selfish ambition is therefore any plan which arises from the heart of man, independently of the witness of the Holy Spirit.
The more that a person holds onto their own beliefs, those which are not of God, the more anxious he will feel and the more frustrated he will become about them. Just as following the law brings a person into the curse of the law and wears them out with religion – so following selfish ambition wears a person out so that they eventually become ready to obey God.
A Desire to Fulfil the Law
The previous sentence would sound rather legalistic to radical grace believers. But we can bring all of this into context if we consider that the desire to fulfil the law, especially when we know that Jesus has already done so on our behalf, is born out of pride, selfish ambition and a desire to prove oneself according to what he does or what he has.
The Bible tells us that when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. (Romans 4:4 NIV). We believe that God owes us something when we believe that we can fulfil the law and do something good for God. The Bible tells us that we are justified by faith and faith alone.
1 Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What were his experiences concerning this question of being saved by faith? Was it because of his good deeds that God accepted him? 2 If so, then he would have something to boast about. But from God's point of view Abraham had no basis at all for pride. 3 For the Scriptures tell us Abraham believed God, and that is why God canceled his sins and declared him "not guilty." 4 But didn't he earn his right to heaven by all the good things he did? No, for being saved is a gift; if a person could earn it by being good, then it wouldn't be free--but it is! 5 It is given to those who do not work for it. For God declares sinners to be good in his sight if they have faith in Christ to save them from God's wrath.
Romans 4:1-5 TLB
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