LEADERSHIP
At Least He Tried
1.13.08
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Transcript:
In August 2006, Fox News featured a television special entitled, "Can Rick Warren Change the World?" The interview focused in part on Warren’s attempt to form a global network of churches. Together they could attack the world's five biggest problems: poverty, disease, illiteracy, spiritual emptiness, and egocentric leadership.
Now, that's an ambitious plan! Can one man rally that many people, that many churches, to change the world? Warren answered that question with the four words he wants written on his tombstone: "At least he tried."
This is Howard Butt, Jr., of Laity Lodge. Do not fear or discount large ambition; the greater risk is never to have tried—in the high calling of our daily work.
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
READER'S COMMENTS
Perhaps a better word to use than "ambition" would simply be "dream". We aren't usually worried about the dreams people have -- whether they be small or large. In fact, we generally encourage people to go for their dreams, and pray that God will help them.
Isn't it funny that dreams seem innocent and even given by God, while ambition is often seen as a selfish desire rooted in ego, vanity or greed? What is the difference between the two then?
Perhaps just that a dream is what God has inspired in us or called us to, while ambition speaks more of what flows from our carnal natures. After all, we don't speak of a "higher ambition" do we? But certainly it is true that the dreams God gives us can be quite ambitious, and that's a good thing, for it means that we have caught how much confidence God has in us. So, let's trust Him and be faithful in the high calling He's inspired us to -- ambitious or not.
I believe a careful reading of Matthew would indicate that our Lord has given his followers the command to make disciples, not change the world. Changing the world belongs to the One Who has all authority.
It seems an easy and common error is to have dreams and ambitions beyond our area of power, but it may be the American Way of thinking. We believe we are appointed to wipe out terrorists, to guarantee safety.
However, my understanding is that we have been saved to do good works, not to achieve good. God achieves the good and deserves our praises.