These past two weeks have been a whirlwind for me, where on top of my busy schedule, I had to mediate disputes and disunity in the body of Christ. I’m extremely thankful that such a situation is not happening within FCBC. As I dealt with this, I was reminded of the root cause of such painful division and turmoil in the family of God. The book of James reveals that the source of such dysfunctional fracture within the church is actually selfish ambition that stems from pride and finally leads to deception. “But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.” (James 3:14-16, NASB)
Scripture clearly states that jealousy and selfish ambition leads to deception that brings disorder to the body of Christ and fractures its unity. Over the years, I have discovered that selfish ambition comes in a variety of forms: from the desire for power to the desperate need for self-vindication when we’re misunderstood or challenged. Regardless, selfish ambition is pride, and it comes from the devil himself. Because of pride, I have seen ministries fall apart, churches being split and the Name of the Lord brought to shame. No wonder Apostle Paul admonishes us in Ephesians 4:3 (NIV) to “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
When we put aside our selfish ambition and seek His wisdom from above, we receive the blessings of James 3:17-18 (NASB): “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
- Senior Pastor Lawrence Khong