Good Virtue and True Ambition

Jeremiah 45:5 KJV

And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the LORD: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.

Baruch, though a faithful man and associate of Jeremiah, had this downfall; his ambition.

Born of a family of higher stature in Jerusalem, his grandfather had been governor under Josiah, he seems to have aspired to a high position in life, either in the political or spiritual realm. But it just was not going to happen. Barnes writes of this chapter, "This address tells Baruch to give up his ambitious hopes, and be content with escaping with life only. Like the prophecy of the 70 years of exile, it would become a prediction of good only after real troubles had been undergone and pride was quelled."

It is impossible to say what will be the future. Unless some major turn takes place I believe America is in for "real troubles" too. These are days to remind ourselves that good virtue and true ambition leads us to seek a close relationship with the Lord and not great things for ourselves. God can and may use any one of us to do great things for Him. But that is His choosing. Ours is to be faithful and to labor to enter into that rest which is fellowship with Him.