Ambition

Over the next weeks I am going to lay out principles taken from J. Oswald Sanders. Sanders was an international Christian preacher, missionary statesman, and prolific author for nearly seventy years and wrote over forty books on spiritual living. This respected Bible teacher and writer influenced Christians throughout the world for much of the twentieth century. There is much to be gleaned from his insight.

We all have "ambitions" but the question that needs to be addressed is what direction do our ambitions drive us. There is ambition that is honorable and then there is ambition that we need to rid from our lives.  Ambition which centers on the glory of God and the welfare of His kingdom should be that which drives us in everything we do. But all to often we are driven by ambition that drives toward popularity, authority, recognition, and/or social visibility.
Jesus said in Mark 10:42-44 “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.

True greatness, true leadership, is found in giving yourself in service to others, not in coaxing or inducing others to serve you.  A true leader is focused on the service he and she can render to God and to other people, not on the residuals and perks of position.

The great leader Count Nikolaus von Zinzendorf was tempted by rank and riches, but his attitude toward ambition was summed up in one simple statement: "I have one passion: it is He, He alone." Zinzendorf turned from self seeking ambition and became the founder of the Moravian church.  Before missionary work was popular or well organized the Moravians established overseas churches that had three times as many members as did their churches back home.

Let's ask ourselves, "What ambition drives our lives? Is it He alone or is it I alone?
The ambition which drives our lives will ultimately determine the God plan for our lives; it will either come to fruition or it will lie dormant!

Reflection:

• How would you illustrate the differences between self centered and God centered ambition from your own life?
• Who has been your most influential example of Godly leadership? And Why?
• What are some areas of honorable/holy ambition in your life?