Ambitious Yet Tenderhearted

Blending empathy and drive, we are called to leverage personal abilities for greater aims while meeting tangible needs with compassion. Grace and grit working in tandem advances God's kingdom beautifully.

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32). Throughout the bible, Jesus models full-hearted engagement with people’s real struggles. He enters in, listening deeply and carrying others’ burdens as his own motivating force for redemption. Compassion literally means “to suffer with;” Jesus paid the ultimate price for us, demonstrating true mercy. We are called to love one another, be compassionate, and kind. 

Tenderheartedness arises from tapping into shared human experiences of pain and longing. We weep alongside those who weep when we dare to draw near, seeking to show up even when we may never fully grasp. Such willingness to feel the anguish makes the joy of consolation sweeter too.

Of course, setting healthy boundaries ensures emotional safety from overwhelm. Periodic solitude restores depleted reserves so we can keep hearts open. But too much distance dulls our sensitivity to subtle injustices that demand remedy. Lord, calibrate us to care deeply while guarding sanity.

Ambition for God’s Glory

“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded.” (Luke 12:48)

While some ambition can be self-serving, Jesus dignifies our striving by seeing created talents as gifts meant for maximal impact. We all have niche capacities wired into our unique design, imparted by a generous God who delights when we boldly develop them. Even common roles like athlete or artist yield platforms to channel competence with uncommon virtue.

Imagine if educators refused to hone their craft for fear of pride, if entrepreneurs declined to build businesses as “too worldly”, if thought leaders withheld solutions for lack of humility. Society would surely suffer loss. Instead we magnify usefulness by courageously sharpening our sword for holy ventures under heavenly direction. No calling lies outside the scope of doing good.

Walking in Jesus’ footsteps, we infuse worldly realms with heavenly values to transform culture, mending systemic gaps with radical inclusion. There God multiplies modest consecrated offerings into nourishing abundance for all.