What Does Godly Ambition Look Like?

For some Christians, the word “ambition” has negative connotations. And yet, we are called to be people who “run in such a way as to get the prize” and “press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called..[us]..heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14)—That sounds pretty ambitious. But toward what end? What is the prize that we seek? The book of Philippians says the goal is “to know Christ.”

Godly ambition aims to know and follow Christ, not just at church, but in the workplace as well. Since he is God over our whole lives, we can make it our goal to know him more and live for his glory wherever we are.

Godly ambition is also characterized by concern for the welfare of others. As we grow in knowing Jesus, we will develop a passion for God and his redemptive purposes for the world. Like Jesus, we are called to look not only to our own interests, but to the interests of others:

“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” (Philippians 2:1-4)

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