This is a question I have been throwing around for a while now, is it possible to be humbly ambitious? Many would say they are oxymorons, yet without ambition how do we move forward in living God’s message? Then again through ambition aren’t we submitting to sinful pride?
According to Oxford dictionary Ambitious is defined as Having or showing a strong desire and determination to succeed, while Humble is defined as Having or showing a modest or low estimate of one's importance. So how can I think lowly of myself while showing a determination to succeed. Simply thinking that I am deserving of that promotion surely means I think higher of myself than the other candidates, which by definition makes me not humble. By rethinking the definitions of both words in the light of the Bible not secular culture.
When I think of ambitious, the first thing that comes to mind is the movie Mean Girls, the “in-crowd” who will do anything to promote themselves as being better than everyone else. Self-motivated greed, arrogance, huge egos, thoughtlessness and the concept that pushing others down will help build them up. That kind of Ambition is Sinful Pride, it is unacceptable according to the Lord as clearly stated in James 4:1-10
Where do all the fights and quarrels among you come from? They come from your desires for pleasure, which are constantly fighting within you. You want things, but you cannot have them, so you are ready to kill; you strongly desire things, but you cannot get them, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have what you want because you do not ask God for it. And when you ask, you do not receive it, because your motives are bad; you ask for things to use for your own pleasures. Unfaithful people! Don't you know that to be the world's friend means to be God's enemy? If you want to be the world's friend, you make yourself God's enemy. Don't think that there is no truth in the scripture that says, “The spirit that God placed in us is filled with fierce desires.” But the grace that God gives is even stronger. As the scripture says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” So then, submit yourselves to God. Resist the Devil, and he will run away from you. Come near to God, and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners! Purify your hearts, you hypocrites! Be sorrowful, cry, and weep; change your laughter into crying, your joy into gloom! Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
This passage tells us that ambition for selfish desires is sinful, but many take it to also mean that to be happy and successful is also sinful. This is not true, it is saying that relying on personal desires and possessions for one’s happiness should make one cry, but to rather find joy in serving and happiness in God, these are to be rewarded with grace. Ambition and Drive to Succeed are therefore not inherently sinful, it is the aim of the action that determines this. Ambition in the name of God can be our most powerful weapon, while ambition for one’s self or own station shall be seen as sinful.
In today’s world of Instagram, Facebook, dare I say Steemit, we find ourselves bombarded with people projecting their perfect selves, families, homes, pets, body, food, everything, and it can be hard to not desire these lifestyles. Remember these are not even their reality, these are staged shots made to show how much better their lives are, and yours could be too if only you buy their product, these are not goals for anyone who is trying to follow the Lord.
Humble – God does not want you to be the lowliest creature on earth, that is not what Jesus had in mind when he told the people to be humble rather repetitively in the Bible we are told not to be arrogant but rather humble; Proverbs 29:23, Sirach1:30, Proverbs 18:12, Proverbs 16:19 and more. So rather the Bible is saying to be humble is the opposite of arrogant. Now Oxford defines that as Having or revealing an exaggerated sense of one's own importance or abilities, this would then make more sense in reference to Jesus telling us to be humble. He is not saying to remain small, quiet and satisfied with an uneventful life, he is saying never be a braggart out loud or in one’s own head.
Everything you are is as God made you, every fault and every strength is a gift from him. To deny your ambition is to waste a gift from God, but in reaching for your goals you must look at the goal in terms of your faith. Do you want to keep up with the Jones’? Have the best car at pick up? These are not goals that are Jesus-centric these are self-centric and giving into personal desires. Growing your business so you can support your family and have time to serve your church or community this is ambition based in faith. Jesus showed us this in Mark 10:42-45
So Jesus called them all together to him and said, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the heathen have power over them, and the leaders have complete authority. This, however, is not the way it is among you. If one of you wants to be great, you must be the servant of the rest; and if one of you wants to be first, you must be the slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served; he came to serve and to give his life to redeem many people.”
Christian Ambition is to want to succeed in order to better serve others and our Lord, rather than to succeed in order to serve ourselves. If we think on every goal, on every plan we have, how will this benefit my community rather than how will this improve my life, God will count you as a humble servant and we will benefit in the Grace of God.
A Prayer of Humble Trust
Lord, I have given up my pride and turned away from my arrogance.
I am not concerned with great matters or with subjects too difficult for me.
Instead, I am content and at peace.
As a child lies quietly in its mother's arms, so my heart is quiet within me.
Israel, trust in the Lord now and forever! Psalm 131:1-3
Let me know what you think? Is there someone who is the personification of Christian Ambition in your mind?