If you have any sense of ambition and you are earnest in pursuing those ambitions then these are your only two possible outcomes. Ironically, in the long run the former turns out to be death in street clothes while the latter is a flourishing life dressed up in sacrifice. One is a spiritual death while the other may very well include a physical death.
So, after diving straight into the deep end of the pool on this post I want to help you tread water a little bit so you can get a better read on what I mean.
Let's start where the Bible starts. In the creation account of Genesis we see that God gives humans two distinctive callings that are meant be the hallmarks of their humanness. Our capacity to bear God's image is revealed in these two activities.
The first is to be fruitful and multiply, filling the earth. It is a call to take the God-glorifying gifts that belong exclusively to humans and carry them to the uttermost reaches of the earth. Something about our reproduction, raising families, and moving to new places brings God glory as it reveals him to be a God of abundance. As the pinnacle of creation and image bearers our multiplying and spreading fills the earth with more and more capacity to display God's image upon earth.
The second distinct calling given to humans is to subdue the earth as we spread, exercising dominion as we multiply and expand. This is a call to imprint our beautiful, God-glorifying humanness upon the earth. We are to steward, shepherd, mold, shape, order, and tend to the rest of earth in a way that brings about more life, beauty, and worship of God. Our dominion properly carried out brings forth more possibilities, more productivity, and more beauty from the rest of the created order.
Certainly these two callings ought to inspire ambition. None of them is accomplished quickly, easily, or without boldness, risk, and planning. Humans then, from the beginning, are embedded with gifts and desires and a calling that are ambitious at the core. To explore, create, protect, expand, mold, shape, proliferate, and spread all require ambition. We were meant to be ambitious.
And yet....
Chapter 3 of Genesis is a story of human ambition run amok. Our God-given, ambition-creating call to multiply and to subdue is subverted with the temptation to 'be like God'. One of the lies behind Satan's words is the thought that we might be able to claim some of God's glory as our own. The problem is that we were only ever created to reflect and participate in His glory. The two callings we were given demonstrate how we ought to bear His image, bringing him glory as we multiply and subdue.
The image we bear, the 'likeness' that can be seen in every human face, is one that reflects God. However, our sinful hearts want to look at that reflection and see ourselves, giving ourselves credit and glory. God is not eager to share that glory and we fail to realize that we only have glory to the degree that we are appropriately reflecting God's glory.
Equally as tragic as our failed glory-reflecting is the way we can look at others and deny that the reflection seen there is that of God. To try to claim that reflection as our own or to try to deny that others bear God's reflection is a foolish act of treason.
Equally as tragic as our failed glory-reflecting is the way we can look at others and deny that the reflection seen there is that of God. To try to claim that reflection as our own or to try to deny that others bear God's reflection is a foolish act of treason.
And so it is that since the fall much of human ambition is wasted clinging to something that isn't rightfully ours. Our ambition causes us to cling to, fight for, and hold on to glory that was only ever meant for God. In doing so, we abandon our true image-bearing calling in order to pursue our own image and glory. This kind of fallen ambition only leads to brokenness, suffering, injustice, and death.
Granted, our ambitions usually feel smaller than this. They feel safe and 'normal.' We desire security for the future. Or safety for our family. Or for control over various aspects of life. Or maybe we just want a better job or more influence at work. We climb corporate ladders, practice spiritual disciplines, raise 'good' children, and 'earn' everything we have.
None of these things are wrong by themselves but how our heart relates to them is crucial to understand. Our ambitions reveal the inner workings of our hearts in a very clear manner. Because our ambitions give such clear pictures of our hearts we usually try to hide, minimize, or downplay our ambitions. Or we keep our lives and our ambitions small because deep down we know that they aren't what they should be.
At the end of the day our hearts and ambitions will either be self-seeking or selfless. We will either build our own image and kingdom or we will live out our Genesis 1 calling that extends God's rule and reign, giving Him glory.
At the end of the day our hearts and ambitions will either be self-seeking or selfless. We will either build our own image and kingdom or we will live out our Genesis 1 calling that extends God's rule and reign, giving Him glory.
If our ambition is selfish we will be grasping, clingy, tight-fisted, and anxious. In our efforts at work, with our families, and in our hearts we will protect ourselves and the image and identity we have created for ourselves. And slowly our souls will lose there capacity to truly and properly bear God's image. Our ambitions will lead us to think that life is about hoarding, hiding, and fighting to hold on to what is 'ours' or should be ours.
When our hearts are oriented towards this kind of ambition we worry about scarcity and ignore God's abundance. We look at our lives and see risk and only feel fear, not glorious expectation. We will identify threats and not see possibilities. Our ambition will be for accruing wealth, status, power, or control and security. Our scale might not be that of politicians or CEO's but our hearts will be the same.
And little by little, with our little worldly ambitions, we will poison our souls.
And little by little, with our little worldly ambitions, we will poison our souls.
There is a better way for our ambitions to end if they are aimed towards bringing more glory to God. We can live out our original callings to multiply and subdue. We will be open-handed, generous, and joyful because we know the abundance of Him from whom all blessings flow.
And with fullness of joy we will more fully reflect God's image and declare His glory as we become more of what we were always meant to be.
And with fullness of joy we will more fully reflect God's image and declare His glory as we become more of what we were always meant to be.
We will explore risks eagerly. We will view new and unexplored horizons with anticipation and not foreboding. Getting married, bearing children and raising families won't happen with cold calculation of finances, timing, or the brokenness of the world. We will create and develop and contribute and not just consume and exploit.
Most of all we will be selfless and generous knowing that doing so helps others more truly bear the image of God.
In case none of this has made sense I am going to bring in some scripture that might help it come together. Thankfully these passages are pretty clear and well known.
Our first stop is with the lovable, bumbling brothers James and John. They are earnest and ambitious but a bit shortsighted in Mark 10 and Matthew 20. In these passages we find them making a bold and ambitious request: to sit at the right hand and left hand of Jesus when he comes into his kingdom. Their request is dripping with ambition. They are asking for status, privilege, authority, respect and much more! It would be easy to despise leaders as openly ambitious as James and John. I am sure the other disciples weren't excited to overhear the request.
As brash as their question is, Jesus answer is just as surprising. Their ambitions aren't shoved back in their faces and Jesus doesn't try to take them down a peg or two. Instead he recognizes that their ambitions are not yet fully aligned to the vision and values of his kingdom. They are still desiring the benefits of knowing Jesus more than they are desiring simply knowing Jesus.
What they desire isn't a bad thing but actually a very good thing. James and John just don't realize what it takes to get those there. That is why Jesus asks if they are able to drink from the same cup as He. Jesus reveals that the road to great things in His kingdom and the way for the ambitious to get ahead is directly opposite of what the world claims.
Those who seek to be great in the Kingdom will not find power, privilege, authority, status, or wealth to be of advantage. Rather, the path to greatness in the Kingdom is marked by selflessness, sacrifice, and generosity. Godly ambition will be known by its humility.
For those who follow Christ this means that we don't need to be afraid of being ambitious. In fact, it means that our ambitions can explode. The problem isn't that our ambitions are too big but that they are too small and too selfish. Big, godly ambitions are tragically rare things for followers of Christ. When our ambitions are godly we can freely, joyfully, and beautifully live out our calling to multiply and subdue because we will have a sense of abundance, awe, purpose, and identity that rest outside of ourselves and our accomplishments.
Philippians 2 is the second place we should look for re-orienting our ambitions so that we can properly bear God's image. This passage is what James and John needed to hear and it is what we need to hear. It points to Christ as our example and shows that the exaltation that the brothers sought is possible to those who are able to drink from the same cup as Jesus Christ. Humility, sacrifice, and an ability to disregard the trappings of earthly ambitions are shown to be the values and behaviors of those who would be great.
Our ambitions will be costly regardless of how our heart is oriented. For the selfish ambitions, death awaits. For the selfless ambitions, sacrifice awaits. Jim Elliot's famous words here are helpful for distinguishing between the two kinds of ambition: "He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."
With our hearts being revealed by our ambitions we can ascertain whether we are holding on to things that we cannot keep or to things we cannot lose. Perhaps most beautiful in our ambitious pursuit of that which we cannot lose is this promise from Matthew 6:33: "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
Like James and John and like the saints in Philippians we need these words to keep our ambitions right. We need to make sure that our ambitions are big enough to include multiplying our image-bearing and subduing the earth in God-glorifying ways. James and John are revealed to have too small ambitions, settling for things that come from God rather than being ambitious enough to have God himself.
My ambitions are too small. Too selfish. Too concerned with life on this earth. I imagine that I'm not alone in needing to ask God to give me bigger ambitions that will bring him glory.
Most of all we will be selfless and generous knowing that doing so helps others more truly bear the image of God.
In case none of this has made sense I am going to bring in some scripture that might help it come together. Thankfully these passages are pretty clear and well known.
Our first stop is with the lovable, bumbling brothers James and John. They are earnest and ambitious but a bit shortsighted in Mark 10 and Matthew 20. In these passages we find them making a bold and ambitious request: to sit at the right hand and left hand of Jesus when he comes into his kingdom. Their request is dripping with ambition. They are asking for status, privilege, authority, respect and much more! It would be easy to despise leaders as openly ambitious as James and John. I am sure the other disciples weren't excited to overhear the request.
As brash as their question is, Jesus answer is just as surprising. Their ambitions aren't shoved back in their faces and Jesus doesn't try to take them down a peg or two. Instead he recognizes that their ambitions are not yet fully aligned to the vision and values of his kingdom. They are still desiring the benefits of knowing Jesus more than they are desiring simply knowing Jesus.
What they desire isn't a bad thing but actually a very good thing. James and John just don't realize what it takes to get those there. That is why Jesus asks if they are able to drink from the same cup as He. Jesus reveals that the road to great things in His kingdom and the way for the ambitious to get ahead is directly opposite of what the world claims.
Those who seek to be great in the Kingdom will not find power, privilege, authority, status, or wealth to be of advantage. Rather, the path to greatness in the Kingdom is marked by selflessness, sacrifice, and generosity. Godly ambition will be known by its humility.
For those who follow Christ this means that we don't need to be afraid of being ambitious. In fact, it means that our ambitions can explode. The problem isn't that our ambitions are too big but that they are too small and too selfish. Big, godly ambitions are tragically rare things for followers of Christ. When our ambitions are godly we can freely, joyfully, and beautifully live out our calling to multiply and subdue because we will have a sense of abundance, awe, purpose, and identity that rest outside of ourselves and our accomplishments.
Philippians 2 is the second place we should look for re-orienting our ambitions so that we can properly bear God's image. This passage is what James and John needed to hear and it is what we need to hear. It points to Christ as our example and shows that the exaltation that the brothers sought is possible to those who are able to drink from the same cup as Jesus Christ. Humility, sacrifice, and an ability to disregard the trappings of earthly ambitions are shown to be the values and behaviors of those who would be great.
Our ambitions will be costly regardless of how our heart is oriented. For the selfish ambitions, death awaits. For the selfless ambitions, sacrifice awaits. Jim Elliot's famous words here are helpful for distinguishing between the two kinds of ambition: "He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."
With our hearts being revealed by our ambitions we can ascertain whether we are holding on to things that we cannot keep or to things we cannot lose. Perhaps most beautiful in our ambitious pursuit of that which we cannot lose is this promise from Matthew 6:33: "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
Like James and John and like the saints in Philippians we need these words to keep our ambitions right. We need to make sure that our ambitions are big enough to include multiplying our image-bearing and subduing the earth in God-glorifying ways. James and John are revealed to have too small ambitions, settling for things that come from God rather than being ambitious enough to have God himself.
My ambitions are too small. Too selfish. Too concerned with life on this earth. I imagine that I'm not alone in needing to ask God to give me bigger ambitions that will bring him glory.
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