Ministry Matters

Many of you have been praying for the Heaven & Home Hour board of directors as we have been looking for God’s man to carry this 78-year-old ministry into the future. Last month (January) we were involved in an intensive interview with a veteran communicator of God’s word. He is a man with decades of experience ministering in churches and conferences. In the March Transmitter we hope to inform you of the results of that interview.

As this issue of the Transmitter goes to press, Dr. Jim Christensen is still caring for his wife, Betty, as she battles cancer. Dr. Jim’s speaking schedule is not as intense as earlier, but he has made several speaking trips to Iowa.

Thank you your comments and encouragement regarding the new direction of the Transmitter. For the past several months we have attempted to provide articles that reinforce the messages heard on the air. This month the focus is on the Psalms.

Heaven & Home Hour board member Keith Lampi would appreciate prayer focused on his traveling schedule. Keith’s business requires frequent international travel to Africa and the Far East. He often interacts with nationals in circumstances that sometimes lead to ministry opportunities. He and his family need prayer for endurance on the road and stability at home.

Godly Ambition 

make it your ambition to lead a quiet life. And attend to your own business and work with your hands — I Thessalonians 4:11

Am-bi-tion: the will or desire to succeed or achieve a particular goal or end.  

Ambition is not in and of itself bad or evil. The object and motive determines the moral quality. Our ambitions can often start out with well-meaning intentions, but can get away from us in the excitement of seeking bigger and better things. The motive can so easily shift, from one of worshipping God, to one of personal gain. Be careful, keep it simple. Paul holds out a quiet life as a worthy ambition. He was, by profession, a tentmaker. He paid his own way in order to avoid the appearance of taking advantage of others (II Thessalonians 3:7 ff).

Writing to Timothy, he advises prayer “be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” (I Timothy 2:1,2). Note that the object of prayer is so that we (Christians) may lead quiet lives. He is not urging prayer for salvation or social revolution, but so that our quality of life would further godliness and dignity. The book of Wisdom has observed that “A tranquil heart is life to the body” (Proverbs 14:30).

And it seems two additional elements would further the tranquil life: attending to one’s own affairs and employment. One who does not attend to his own business, but involves himself in the affairs of others is a meddler. Basically, Paul is saying we need to mind our own business. This is where the act of gossip can get out of control. What are things we can do to avoid such temptation? Employment, hard work, is one way of continuing to attend to one’s own business, to avoid being a busybody. Time and weariness will help us concentrate on our own affairs.

A concern of Paul is “that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.” (I Thessalonians 4:12). He is concerned for his primary task, evangelism. Believers can be in turmoil, slothful and not working, butting into the affairs of others. This attitude gives evangelism a bad name and makes the work more difficult.

Adapted from A Layman’s Daily Walk, For HHH Ministries (available at HHH book store for $12)