In a mistaken idea about contentment, some Christians aspire to wanting nothing; to living mediocre, undistinguished lives. They do nothing well, never break a sweat, and resent anyone who presses them to own a bigger vision! In truth, those who are filled with God's Spirit are equipped with gifts to change the world and since we will all stand before the King of Glory to give an accounting of how we lived, we should be full of earnest desire to achieve great things with the gifts He's given us. My dictionary defines ambition as 'the earnest desire for achievement or distinction.' Is that compatible with humility in the service of Christ? I believe it is. We need ambition and we must keep it on a short leash.
Jesus had a calling to save the world! Nothing, not even a cross could stop Him. He was amazingly ambitious, yet always submitted to God and loving. "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:28, NLT
Paul was called by Jesus to take the Good News of the Kingdom to the world. He was a man of great ambition, whose vision pulled him through all kinds of deprivations and difficulties.
Paul repeatedly commends those who are willing to stick with hard work. In the book of the Revelation, Jesus praises those who keep the faith saying, "I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance.. . . You have patiently suffered for me without quitting." (Revelation 2:2-3, NLT) The Word adds a qualifying word to ambition that makes all the difference. That word? 'Selfish.' "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:3-4, NIV)
A person who lacks ambition will drift through life taking what falls his way, looking for minimal ways to keep his job, settling for the easiest rather than seeking the best! Solomon's proverbs say that those who are lazy want everything but get nothing. (13:4) He also says that a lazy man is like vinegar on our teeth and smoke in our eyes. What a turn of phrase. The lazy man talks a great game but proves to be a great irritant to those who work with him because he never gets the job done. An overly ambitious person is equally difficult to work around because he will not cooperate, has little sense of team-work, and is always seeking center stage. Consequently, what he does, no matter how well it is done, is tainted with self-interest.
Ambition can be dangerous because it can lead to a misplaced love of work over love for people! An ambitious person warms to the process that 'gets things done,' and may become blinded to what his drive for the goal is costing those around him.
Who are you living for - self or Christ? Does an ambition for the work of the Kingdom own you, calling you to excel in the service of the King?
Check your vision! If you lack a reason for living, pray 'til you hear His calling! If your vision is clear, but you are motivated by approval of others, or are building something bigger on which to hang your name, take it back to the feet of Jesus. Lay it there and ask Him to refocus you, not away from the desire to make a difference or distinction, but around a genuine desire to make His name glorious.
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"Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:14-16, NIV)
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