Kingdom Currency

“16For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. 17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. 18And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” – James 3:16-18

And again,

“22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 26Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.” – Galatians 5:22-26

There is no room for selfish ambition, jealousy and arrogance in God’s Kingdom. The Lord considers those things to be unclean, the realm of death. But the self-centered western mindset is a familiar spirit that beckons us, and we easily, eagerly disregard that call to die to our own wants, to serve Him sacrificially by serving each other. And not just service for the sake of fulfilling a duty—it’s the heart attitude He seeks to change, from earthly wisdom to the wisdom of God, the change of motive from selfish ambition to self-control.

Service without that transformation of motive—without dying to our own agenda—profits us nothing.