AMBITION

Mark 10:35-45—Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want You to do for us whatever we ask.” “What do you want Me to do for you?” He asked. They replied, “Let one of us sit at Your right and the other at Your left in Your glory.” . . . Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many."

Perhaps one of the hardest tests of following Jesus is dying to ambition. In my own life I find that I must constantly scrutinize my thoughts and motives for always, ambition is lurking ready to seize the day. But what’s so bad about being ambitious? Would you play tag with a rattlesnake? Would you drive your car blindfolded? Then try pitting your own desire to succeed with what God wants and see what results.

I want to be first. Jesus says "the first shall be last." I want to have my own way. Jesus says, "if anyone would follow Me he must deny himself." I want the applause of people. Jesus says "your reward will be on earth but not in heaven." I want to speak up and do great things. God says, "Be still (cease striving), and know that I am God." Do you see the picture? Personal ambition is the centerpiece of the heart’s trophy collection. It easily relegates God’s glory to a dust-covered relic on an obscure shelf of knickknacks.

If I am to be ambitious let it be ambition for God’s name. Let me value humility. Let me be zealous to serve others. Let me revere God and seek His will. Quarantine and destroy that disease that first appeared in the garden--the lust to eat forbidden fruit—to have eyes opened and be like God. On the day that Eve and Adam honored ambition mankind took a fatal heart wound. Worship has suffered ever since.

Inspiration

God grant we may see that the great need of every worker is a firsthand acquaintance with Jesus Christ which puts to death the spirit of ambition. Ambition has murder at its heart; our Lord showed His disciples that ambition is impossible in His kingdom, "Unless you . . . become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3).—Oswald Chambers in Workmen of God