Shrinking the Camel – Part I

I like making money. The more I can make the better.

Why should that be shocking or distasteful? That statement does not imply that I am obsessed with money, or that I am using money for evil purposes. It certainly doesn’t mean that I am dedicating my life to serving the dreaded Mammon instead of God. But as a practical matter, having money sure does come in handy.

I am convinced, however, that such blessings do not happen by luck or chance. Nor do they come by passively awaiting for God’s hand to start waving one’s career into life. It takes years of determination, persistence, politicking and hard work. It takes ambition, my friend.

So then, is ambition a sin or a virtue?

I guess it depends on how we characterize ambition. For the record, I’m not talking about the “I’m going to kill my father so I can become King” kind of ambition, but more of a good, healthy drive to prosper.

To religious folk, “prosper” is somehow a much more acceptable choice of words to use as opposed to “succeed.” Success is unfortunately taken by some to be the antithesis of spirituality, because it is associated with selfishness, materialism, worldliness and cutthroat-ism. If it is success that you seek, then some holier-than-thou will point a finger at you and ask the age-old question, “What does success really mean?” You will then have to come up with all these non-financial definitions of success, and in the end you’ll feel guilty for just wanting to get ahead in life. But prosperity is more straightforward. It’s not so loaded. It’s even biblical! And friends, let’s talk plainly here: prospering is very much about making money.

According to Miriam Webster:

Prosperity: The condition of being successful or thriving; especially : economic well-being

The thing I like about the word prosperity is that it wraps financial well-being in with the idea of “thriving.” So, in other words, it implies that you can reach your full potential as a human being using your gifts, talents and unique experiences, and then get very well- compensated for it. That sounds really nice. Thriving is good.

And doesn’t God want us to prosper? Who can forget this favorite verse thrown in to many an inspirational book?

Jeremiah 20:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Look at some of our spiritual forefathers from the Old Testament. Abraham, for instance. Now there was a sharp guy. He kept growing his herds and his land and his staff until he got to the point where he had a whole entourage of folks that had to move with him whenever God told him to pack up and go. He was very rich. Now, dear reader, we both know that doesn’t happen by chance! It takes will and ambition. And I think God liked him pretty much.