Do you have the ambition to please someone? 2 Corinthians 5-6

2 Corinthians 5:9 (NASBStr)

Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.

Paul is in the middle of encouraging the believers at Corinth to make their walk before men comparable with their position in Christ.   He has told them they are being changed from glory to glory (3:18) and now have a responsibility to live that glory out before men.   But, to be assured we don't try to "please" men, we are to, instead, please God.    Paul states that his desire or "ambition" is to please Him.   The word "ambition" caries the meaning of "being in love with honor."  We understand the meaning and nature of "ambition."   We live in a society full of those who have ambition.   But, the subject of their ambition is not to "please Him."   There is nothing wrong with being ambitious.  Ambition, however, needs a subject ... mission.   Here we see it is important to have, as our mission, to please Him.   But, note the part faith plays in this approach to life.  We can only please God by faith (Hebrews 11:6); we stand by faith (1 Corinthians 16:13); we walk by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7); we live by faith (Galatians 2:20); we fight by faith (Ephesians 6:16).   So, our pleasing God is not by our own efforts but having faith in God.   When we try to please others we do so with our own efforts.  We hope they will be pleased with our performance.   But, with God we can't please Him by performance but only our faith in His strength to make us complete.   We cast all away and put complete trust in His ability to make us what we are and that pleases Him.   Christianity is the up-side-down-regligion.   We don't try to please our God by working hard.  We please our God by stopping our work and lay faithful in His Hands.  Make it your ambition to please Him ... via Faith!!