Benjamin Euler

Confidence, Humility, and Ambition

February 7, 2010 · Leave a Comment

What is the relationship between confidence, humility and ambition? I have a very tough time with this in my life personally in my actions and motives behind my actions, as well as the thoughts I have of other people in observing their behavior.

Humility obviously is both demanded and the natural fruit of having your heart changed through faith in Christ and the Spirit’s sanctifying affects over time. There is a Love so amazing, so divine, it demands my soul, my life, my all. God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). The more and more the Spirit reveals situations in life to me where true Christ-like humility means taking a back-seat, being at the end of the line, going completely unnoticed, doing the things nobody else wants to do, the more and more…well, humbling it is. Interesting how that works, isn’t it? The more I seek to follow Jesus, who “made himself nothing” (Philippians 2:7), the more I realize just how unimportant and insignificant I really am. The more I step out in faith to humble myself in the daily nitty-grittiness of life, even while having that puffed up view of myself, I learn through doing such things how foolish I was to ever hold on to such pride. In other words, when I try to “count others more significant than myself,” I end up realizing that other truly are more significant than I.

On the other hand, I also believe that there should be a healthy and firm confidence in the life of a Christian. Being humble doesn’t mean thinking you aren’t capable of anything, it is simply having a realistic view of yourself and your abilities. The Christian should be “strong and courageous” (Joshua 1:9a).  But the reason behind why strength and courage is appropriate is because “the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9b). The confidence is not in yourself, but in God’s strength working through you, which ironically is what is at the heart of the Christian life, isn’t it? The Christian life, as Henry Scougal has said, is “the life of God in the soul of man.” We are merely the glove which the hand of the Spirit goes into, giving it movement, strength, and purpose. A paradox of the Christian life is that not until we realize we are weak will we be strong, for God’s strength is perfected in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:10).  The more dependency, the more power. So, in a way, one relationship between confidence and humility is that true confidence is the result of humility. To put it another way: no humility, no God-honoring confidence. To put it a third way, “confidence” without humility is really prideful cockiness.

The tension between my desire for Christlike humility/confidence and ambition arises when I enter a dog-eat-dog world of success. In this world of academics, athletics, and social issues, humility most of the time is not rewarded. Sure, it is given lipservice and theoretical and philosophical praise from time to time–especially in a Christian environment where everyone knows it is a desirous thing. However, it simply doesn’t reward in any other way. In other words, there are things which I know I could do which would get me “ahead” in my pursuits–very subtle things, but they run contrary to what I feel would be living a truly humble life. Subtly prideful, arrogant things. I see others doing them, and then reaching that success which I am striving for. I want to move up the ladder in the way they just did, but I couldn’t for the life of me go about it the way they just did. It would be sinful for me to go about things the way others do. If this makes any sense to you, then you feel the tension.

What then should be my mindset? I deeply desire to “get ahead” and achieve certain things in a very competitive environment. I deeply desire to be “excellent in all things,” but I also want “all things to be to the glory of God,” even in the process of becoming excellent. The ends do not justify the means. It’s not the big things in life, it’s the tiny, micro, small, subtle details and attitudes. The details in life matter to God.

At the end of the day, the only person someone has control over is himself. If one dwells on the shortcomings of others, or the success of others, it slowly drags you down and eats away at you. The only thing the Christian can do when dealing with others who are filled with selfish ambition is to remain faithful himself. Those who honor God, God will honor (1 Samuel 2:30). The Christian must fight to stay humble, maintain that God-sustained confidence in the midst of a ferociously competitive world where the rules of Christlikeness do not govern one’s material advancement.

What if you never do climb that ladder? What if you never achieve that goal? What if you never gain that success you want? Well, here enters the part where you scratch your head and go, “I don’t know.” It’s tough. It’s the ongoing mental war in the mind, when you fail to succeed by the world’s standards to make sure you have God’s definition of success. And not only when you fail, but even when you succeed (world’s definition), have you really succeeded (God’s definition)? Oh, to get to a point to where you can honestly say, “Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise.” I saw a Colts field goal kicker tonight in the Super Bowl miss his field goal attempt, but then make a point to still point upward acknowledging the Lord–miss or make. He missed the field goal, but did he succeed?

How does one have righteous ambition while having God-honoring confidence and Christlike humility? Christlike confidence and humility are essential for righteous ambition. What is your definition of success? Is your definition of success God’s definition of success? So what’s the conclusion in this unorganized and perhaps unclear blog post? What is the course of action to take? Be steadfast in whatever situation you are in. Do what you know is right, and believe that He will honor your faithfulness and reward those who earnestly seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

(Disclaimer: these thoughts/views are not set in stone, and are somewhat quickly assembled as I am thinking through them. Please do not overly scrutinize them. I may be off logically or biblically, or I may not have said enough, or said too much).

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Thursday Thoughts

February 4, 2010 · 1 Comment

Incomprehensible Numbers
I read a statement today that said that federal agencies are spending “stimulus” money at the rate of $196 million dollars per hour. And they will continue to do so for the next 8 months. $196 million every hour! For 8 months! This is money we don’t have. If you really want to get depressed, take a look at President Obama’s proposed budget, in which there is another $1.3 TRILLION dollar shortage. We are spending $1.3 Trillion dollars more than we have, and there are no signs of stopping. I don’t know how we are ever going to get out of this.

Pennies no longer in play?
I went through the Wendy’s drive thru tonight. My total was $5.97, so I gave the (young) lady a 5 dollar bill, sixty cents in silver, and 37 pennies. I even counted it out to her: “Here’s 5, 60 cents, and 37.” Upon my giving it to her, she froze, her mouth dropped, and she goes, “Uhhh.” She was overwhelmed by 37 pennies. She didn’t know what to do. She didn’t receive this type of training. Pennies are still valid U.S. currency last time I checked.

Just Give Me Hymns
I found an obscure radio station tonight flipping through the stations while driving. The signal kept going in and out, but what I heard was immensely encouraging. You could take 5 sermons, 20 chapel services, and an infinite amount of contemporary worship songs, and all those combined would not come close to how much what they played encouraged me and caused me to worship God. They played three hymns sung by non-professional choirs, but sung with passion. They played “Guide Me O, Thou Great Jehovah,” “He Lives! He Lives!”, and “Through It All.” It strengthened me. I think it is an absolute tragedy when we forfeit the deep, God-exalting, well-crafted words of hymns and their terrific melodies for the latest two-line obscure emotion-centered praise song written last week that nobody has ever heard.

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Oh What A Time!

February 1, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Make special notice of Bill Gaither’s toss of the microphone to Lee Young…

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16 Lies in 7 Minutes

February 1, 2010 · 1 Comment

Watch this video.

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Massachusetts has spoken – America survives!

January 19, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Yes! Huge win for Scott Brown, the GOP, conservatives, and ultimately America tonight with the victory! No more Democrat 60-vote super-majority in the Senate. No more ruining of the United States through government takeover of healthcare.

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“It is Finished” – Tremendous Sermon

January 11, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Last night I listened to a particularly gripping sermon by Pastor John Sale of Valley Center Community Church in Valley Center, California (formerly my pastor at Grace Community Bible Church, years ago). This sermon, “It is Finished,” descriptively leads up to the crucifixion of Jesus through Mark’s gospel account, and when Pastor John gets to the conclusion, the gloriousness of God’s grace to us through Jesus’ death is made clear. Many implications and observations about the event of the crucifixion were pointed out in a clear and convicting way. This sermon leaves you worshiping God. Highly recommended (and any other sermon by John Sale).

There is no direct link to it. To access it, go here > Media > Launch Media Player > Scroll down and select the sermon “It Is Finished” preached on 04/05/09.

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Piper Q&A From Prisoners in Georgia Prison

January 10, 2010 · Leave a Comment

This video of John Piper answering questions is particularly interesting to me because the questions are coming straight from inmates from Georgia.

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I’m Gonna Sing

January 6, 2010 · Leave a Comment

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Technology Confession

December 31, 2009 · Leave a Comment

I have a confession to make: I actually want a copy of Microsoft Windows 7. They say it’s actually stable, and I would like to install it on my Mac, just to have the option to use. I can’t actually think of any reason why I would use Windows on any consistent basis, but I would like to have the option and stay current with how to work the Windows OS.

But even though Microsoft has seemingly come out with a good product, they are marketing it in a dumb way. They continue to complicate things by having a home edition, professional edition, and ultimate edition. Why don’t they do everyone a favor and include all the features in a single version of the operating system. Secondly, the price is just ridiculous. There is little chance that I will purchase Windows 7 because I would have to pay a minimum of $199.99 (for Home Premium version), and a maximum of $319.99 for the Ultimate version.

A copy of Apple’s OS X costs only $69.00 with the education discount, and the upgrade to Snow Leopard costs only $29 (I upgraded to Snow Leopard for only $11 through a special mail-in offer). Not only that, but Apple offers a package deal that includes iWork, iLife, and OS X Leopard all for only $169.00, thirty dollars less that Windows 7.

Why doesn’t Microsoft just lower their price for Windows 7?

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No More Texting While Driving

December 31, 2009 · Leave a Comment

A new law goes into effect on Friday in Illinois: drivers will no longer be allowed to text while driving. For awhile now, texting while driving has been looked down on, or discouraged, but it has never been illegal. While this probably will be good overall for safety on the road, it will be very hard to remind myself to not read or compose any SMS message while in the car.

From a press release from the Illinois DOT:

On August 6, 2009, Governor Pat Quinn signed into law House Bill 71 and House Bill 72. The new laws ban motorists from sending text messages while driving in Illinois, and make it illegal to talk on a cell phone while driving through a highway construction zone or school zone. In addition, it will become illegal to compose, send or read text messages, instant messages and e-mail on a cell phone or surf the internet while driving.  The ban also includes personal digital assistants and portable or mobile computers, but does not include global positioning systems (GPS) or navigation systems.

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