As I’ve learned more about who God has created me to be – my personality, gifts, and passions – I have lived in a tension that is so often only approached from one side. I’ve never sought out to do anything half-heartedly. I don’t resonate with someone saying that Jesus is their Lord and Savior and then living as if the mission they are called to is just some minor scene in the story of their life.
A Little Background
I’ve always been an athlete, a motivated athlete. I’ve always tried to be the best I can possibly be and, to be honest, I’ve always wanted to be the best. In baseball I wanted to be the best hitter. In hockey I wanted to be the best enforcer. No matter the sport, I always wanted to be the best leader I could be.
In school I was a high-achiever (when I cared to be).
From as early as I can remember, I’ve been an ambitious person. And for most of my life that ambition wasn’t always from the best of motivations.
As I try to be conformed to God’s purpose for my life, my standard is always God’s word. This is what it has to say about a certain kind of ambition:
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4)
Did I mention that I have lived in a tension that is so often only approached from one side?
The topic of ambition in the life of a Christian so often starts and ends with this one verse. But what if there is more to the topic of ambition? I think there is.
3 Things Christians Need to Know About Ambition
1. Selfish Ambition Should Be Purged From Your Life
As I mentioned above, for the majority of my life, my ambitions were from selfish motivations. Why did I want to be the best in sports? Because I wanted to be the best. That’s it. Pretty simple. But now, as a new person in Christ, my selfish ambitions are being purged from my life. At least that is what I hope is happening. Because the truth is, I’m probably more ambitious now than I ever was before.[shareable]Selfish ambition should be purged from your life.[/shareable]
2. God Has Called Us to Be Ambitious
Before Jesus ascended into heaven He gave His 11 disciples a last pep-talk about their mission on earth. He said, “you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8b). How about that for an ambitious mission?! You will be my witnesses to the ENDS OF THE EARTH! Imagine what the disciples were thinking when Jesus said such a thing. Lord, you do realize we’re just a group of guys, right? But that wasn’t the entire story. Jesus said a key thing before that statement quoted above. Here’s the full verse:
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Do you see the difference? It’s not simply their mission, but it is the Holy Spirit’s mission.
He is to give them the power to do the mission that is before them.
God is calling us to Kingdom Ambition. Ambition that is motivated for the expansion and full realization of God’s Kingdom. Because the reality is, the 11 disciples aren’t the end of the story either. You and I have the same mandate, the same mission.
3. Kingdom Ambition Honors Our Ambitious God
When we have the right ambitions – to expand God’s Kingdom – we honor God.
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)
God is able to do far more than we can even ask of Him. We are on the journey that is paved before us by an ambitious God who wants no one to perish, but for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Beyond that, He seeks to reach all people through His people. That is correct, He works through broken people who are being made brand new by Himself. [shareable]We are on the journey that is paved before us by an ambitious God who wants no one to perish, but for all to come to repentance.[/shareable]
Our God is ambitious. He created even though He knew we would sin.He loves whether or not we love Him. He redeems even though He knows we will stumble.
The Clear Caution
For any ambitious Christian, the tension remains. When we are made new and are being shaped by God to be the person He wants us to be, what should happen is our wills are being conformed to His. But selfishness can creep in unnoticed at any time. Because of this truth, we must always lay our desires at the foot of the cross and ask God to give us a desire that honors Him.
Our ambitions can even be for God’s Kingdom, but deep down they are really about us. This is still selfish ambition. [shareable]Our ambitions can even be for God’s Kingdom, but deep down they are really about us. This is still selfish ambition. [/shareable]
And this is the tension I live in. I’m ambitious. I want to always make sure that my ambitions are properly motivated and properly focused. Do I fail? Of course. But when I do, I strive to lay my selfishness down and pick up my cross – the cross that calls me to deny myself so that I can fully follow Christ.
I Want to Learn From You
What has been your experience with ambition? I want to hear and learn from you. Leave a comment below or connect on Facebook or Twitter.
