Godly Ambition

Spiritual Concept: Humanity (wk. 1/13)

Reading: Ephesians 2:1-10

One of the most striking conversations in the Bible comes from the mouths of two of Jesus’ disciples, James and John. Fittingly nicknamed the “Sons of Thunder,” they stirred up controversy when they asked Jesus, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” At first glance, it seems like a shocking question. Who would dare go up to Jesus in that way? But notice Jesus doesn’t rebuke them. He doesn’t scold them for their ambition. Instead, He offers a powerful redefinition of greatness in the Kingdom of God: “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:35-45).

Jesus redefines what greatness truly is. He says that in the Kingdom of God, greatness is not about position or power, but about service. “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant.” This single truth shifts the entire conversation around ambition. Jesus doesn’t say ambition is wrong. He simply gives it a new direction.

As someone who is naturally goal-oriented, this has been a personal struggle. When I first became a Christian, I was hesitant to pursue anything that might draw attention to myself. I didn’t want to be seen as someone chasing fame or recognition. As a personal trainer, I had the rare gift of doing what I loved while also earning a living. But even then, I found myself shrinking back. I avoided fully stepping into my gifts because I feared the spotlight. I was unsure if using my voice or influence might somehow take glory away from God.

But over time, I came to see that hiding my gifts was just as self-focused as misusing them. Whether I was chasing recognition or avoiding it, I was still making it about me. True humility isn't denying the gift. It's offering it back to God and using it to serve others.

Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” God didn’t create us to sit quietly on the sidelines. He created us with purpose and intention. Every skill, every passion, every opportunity is meant to reveal His grace and point people toward Him.

Godly ambition means pursuing greatness the way Jesus defines it—by serving. It doesn’t mean we stop working hard or striving for excellence. It means our goals are shaped by love and rooted in eternity. In our families, our workplaces, and our communities, we don’t climb over people to get ahead. We look for ways to lift others up. We listen more to understand than speak louder to be heard. We seek to be faithful, not famous.

C.S. Lewis wrote, “Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you will get neither.” When our ambition is aimed at glorifying God, success follows in ways we never expected. But when we make it about ourselves, we miss the point—and we often miss the impact God intends to make through us.

Questions for Reflection:

Are you living into your godly purpose in life?

What gifts has God given you to serve others with?