Outline: A Godly Leader pursue Godly Ambition

Note: This is the twelfth installment in our series on biblical leadership.

 

A Godly Leader pursue Godly Ambition

Selected Verse

Establish the need: Have you wondered whether ambition is something a Christian and Christian leader can desire?

 

Purpose: Today we shall three points so that as a Christian and a godly leader we pursue Godly ambition

• The importance of pursuing godly ambition
• The example of pursuing godly ambition
• How to cultivate the pursuit of godly ambition

 

Quick Comments about meaning of ambition

• I know “ambition” can be seen as totally negative among many Christians.  So we have to consider what the definition of ambition is.
• The dictionary’s definition for ambition: a strong wish to achieve something.”[1]
• If we see this definition and think about how there are godly things that one can achieve then ambition in of itself is not sinful though one can have sinful ambition.

 

The importance of pursuing godly ambition

Even if you are not a leader it is important to pursue Godly Ambition

1. Our ambition whether life or death is to please God: “Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:9)
   1. Jesus here is speaking.
   2. Notice here the verse mentioned “we also have as our ambition”
      1. Paul is an Apostle and Christian and puts himself among other believers as having ambition.
      2. Literally the word ambition means “Love honor.”
   3. When are we to have ambition? This life and the next, so ambition cannot be automatically sinful
      1. Going to heaven is described as “at home”
      2. Alive on earth is described as “absent”
   4. What is the content of our ambition? “to be pleasing to Him”
2. Another verse that shows we can have godly ambition: “and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we instructed you,” (1 Thessalonians 4:11)
   1. Paul is speaking.
   2. Note the word “ambition”
   3. Paul states the believers’ ambitions include three things:
      1. “lead a quiet life”
      2. “and attend to your own business”
      3. “and work with your hands”
   4. Of the things listed I like how Paul also refer to ambition of “and work with your hands” referring to one’s occupation; in order words being ambitious with work is not a sin in of itself if it is done for the Lord!

Why is it important for leaders? (2 Reasons)

1. Reason 1: Our leadership will be disgraced
   1. If we don’t have an ambition to please God then our leadership will be about our pride and pride is a sin
   2. Yet Pride result in dishonor: “When pride comes, then comes dishonor; But with the humble there is wisdom.” (Proverbs 11:2)
   3. So our leadership will be one where we eventually be dishonorable.
2. Reason 2: Our leadership will be destructive
   1. If we don’t have an ambition to please God then our leadership will be about our pride and pride is a sin
   2. Yet Pride result in destruction: “When pride comes, then comes dishonor; But with the humble there is wisdom.” (Proverbs 16:18)
   3. So our leadership will be one where we eventually be dishonorable.

 

The example of pursuing godly ambition

Before going over the example we need to clarify the relationship of ambition and glory.

1. Don’t forget earlier in looking at 2 Corinthians 5:9) the word “ambition” literally meant “Love honor.” And honor and glory are related.
2. Jesus also taught that an element of ambition does seek glory; and what matters is the source one seeks glory and recognition from: “Nevertheless many, even of the rulers, believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, so that they would not be excommunicated from the synagogue; 43 for they loved the approval of people rather than the approval of God.” (John 12:42-43)
   1. Jesus notes that some people would not profess their faith publicly in Jesus because of fear of the Pharisees.
   2. But Jesus goes deeper to find why people would not want to profess faith in Jesus in verse 43.
   3. The reason has to do with where one find approval from.
   4. The Greek word for “approval” is actually doxa where we get the word glory.[2]
   5. The Greek word has the meaning of “worth, dignity and weight.” [3]
   6. So we see here that the issue is not if we are seeking glory or not; it is about whom we want glory from!

The Son’s ambition is to glorify the Father

1. John 7:18= “He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”
   1. In context this is what Jesus said after the Jews were astonished with how learned Jesus was in verse 15.
   2. This is Jesus speaking about Himself because no one else can claim to have “no unrighteousness.”
   3. Jesus then is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, that is, the Father.
2. John 12:28= ““Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”
   1. In context this took place the last week before Jesus’ death.
   2. Jesus makes it very clear that He wants the Father to be glorified.

Yet the Father glorifies the Son

1. John 17:22= “The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one”
   1. Here in Jesus’ prayer that Jesus didn’t just only ask to be glorified but also affirm the truth that the Father will glorify Him: “The glory which You have given Me”
2. John 17:24= “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world”
   1. Here Jesus is praying for all believers.
   2. Jesus wants all believers to see His glory that God the Father has given Him.

 

How to cultivate the pursuit of godly ambition

1. Recognize there is such thing as ungodly ambition
   1. Sometimes the world thinks all ambitions are good; but not so!
   2. Selfish ambition is part of the deeds of darkness: “idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions,” (Galatians 5:20)
   3. Sometimes one might ask: “How do I know my ambition is selfish or pleasing to God?” See if it manifest the fruit of the Spirit or the deeds of darkness that Paul listed in Galatians 5.
2. Remind yourself regularly the terrible consequences of selfish ambition: “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.” (James 3:16)= Meditate and memorize this verse to let that be a motivation for you to fight and mortify selfish ambition.
3. Pursue pure intention: “the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking that they are causing me distress in my imprisonment.” (Philippians 1:17)
   1. Note how selfish ambition is the opposite of pure intention.
   2. If one has pure intention then one will not have selfish ambition that has ulterior motive.
   3. Likewise when one has selfish ambition that has ulterior motive it is hard to have a pure intention.
   4. So realize repentance from selfish ambition means pursuing pure intentions.
   5. Pray to God to work in your heart in this area!
4. Value Christ and the Kingdom of God: ““The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells everything that he has, and buys that field. 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, 46 and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold everything that he had and bought it.” (Matthew 13:44-46)
   1. Notice in these two parables from Jesus people pursue what they value.
   2. Likewise we should value the Kingdom of God; and once we do we will pursue it and the pursuit of it is a godly ambition.
   3. Dave Harvey has a good quote: “The seeds of ambition are sown when we perceive value.” [4]
   4. Read the Word of God of regularly to change your value and outlook!
5. Brother Gersom Clark made a good point: Worship God!
   1. When we worship God we put God above our own self.
   2. The remedy to selfish ambition must involve dethroning our selfishness and instead allow God to reign and to be one’s joy, praise, awe and love!

 

[1] Source: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/ambition.

[2] Dave Harvey, Rescuing Ambition (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2010), 21.

[3] Dave Harvey, Rescuing Ambition (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2010), 21.

[4] Dave Harvey, Rescuing Ambition (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2010), 27.

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