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 In
2 Cor. 5: Paul pictures the body as a “tent-house”
(tabernacle) which the Christian will one day put off in favor
of a heavenly habitation with the Lord. After showing that to be
at home in the body is to be absent from the Lord (vs. 6) he
concludes in verse 9, “Wherefore also we make it our aim,
whether at home or absent, to be well pleasing unto him.”
The
word “aim” as used here means to be ambitious in a good
sense. It is to act from love or honor; in this case, the honor
which comes from the Lord. (See Robertson’s Word Pictures
in the New Testament. Vol. IV, P.229) Paul’s noble
ambition then, whether in the “tent” home or the heavenly,
was to please the Lord. We recall his words of Rom. 8:14, “For
whether we live, we live unto the Lord; or whether we die, we
die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the
Lord’s.” No wonder Paul encourages us to be imitators of
him! (Phil. 3:17) Like Paul, all Christians should be actively
seeking the honor of Heaven. Pleasing the Father must be the
life-ruling ambition of every child of God. After all, isn’t
that what religion is all about?
Yet,
many seek the reward that Paul sought who do not share this
worthy ambition. Ironic as it seems, this indispensable and
fundamental requirement of pleasing God appears to have been
lost sight of by most in religion. To be sure, the idea of a
God-pleasing oriented ministration is retained and promoted with
much lip— homage. Doing His will is the avowed intent of most,
but they are betrayed by their fruits.
Much
has been done to lower Paul’s high
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aim to the easier and
bigger target of PEOPLE—PLEASING religion. Its popular
sentiments are well expressed in the public service advertising
that urges attending “the church of your choice” or “every
man, in his own way” involvement. Its disciples seek for a
church or religion with which they can be satisfied —
or quit if they become dissatisfied. They accept or
reject without serious inquiry or concern as to whether it
pleases God — boldly assuming that what pleases them must please
Him! One might as logically manufacture counterfeit money and
expect the Treasury Department to honor it as to expect God to
approve this kind of religion.
Paul’s
ambition to please God was based on the knowledge that salvation
itself depends on it. Heaven awaits only those who will do His
will. (Matt. 7:21) The New Testament is our pattern for pleasing
God. None of it can be altered or ignored because it alone shows
men how they are to walk and to please God. (1 Thes. 4:1) He
simply CANNOT be served and honored apart from doing His will
— no matter -how sincere and well-intentioned the efforts
might be. In contrast to the “do-and-believe-as-you-please”
concept, we, as His servants, humbly do as He pleases. His own
son could not do otherwise. (Rom. 15:3)
Paul’s
ambition should flavor our lives! Pleasing God should influence
every decision and duty. There will be little need to be
ambitious about pleasing God in heavenly mansions if we fail Him
in the tent!
Dan Shipley
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