Godly Ambition or Personal Glory?

Biblical World View: Michigan Board of Education approves new regulations by a vote of 6-2 allowing Sex Education curriculum to be woven into Health Education curriculum. Thursday Nov 13, in Lansing at the John Hannah building, the MI BOE heard public comment from over 125 people who registered to comment. I approximate 89 people were in person and the other 40ish were on Zoom. Tracey Henry was keeping track of those who were for the new regulations and those who were against, and it was almost 50-50; those apposed had people representing large groups of people.

I was there with Pastor Mark Seppo, and spoke on behalf of a group of Pastors from around the State of Michigan. We had several members from our church there standing up against the Marxist-Luciferian indoctrination of our children. Grok estimates there are 7,300 to 12,000 churches in Michigan. 10,000 churches is an average of 120 churches per county. Approximately 5 Pastors showed up in person. One was for the new regulations.

Godly Ambition or Personal Glory?

We all feel the pull of ambition. There is a desire in us to make a difference. Ambition in itself, is not sinful. It is the direction and motive of our ambitions that determines whether it brings glory to God or glory to self, which can be very destructive, not only to ourselves, but to those around us.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “I make it my ambition to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard,” Rom 15:20 NLT. Paul wasn’t driven by ego, but by eternal purpose. His ambition was godly. Many of us have the desire to do great things for God, but the spirit of pride and our own ego are always lurking.

Selfish ambitions: Strong’s #2052, Greek eritheia (er-ith-eye-ah); a person only concerned with their own welfare, a person susceptible to being bribed, an ambitious, self-willed, person seeking opportunities for promotion. From there it became electioneering, a partisan factious spirit that would resort to any method for winning followers.

Many cliques in churches start because of selfish ambitions. People can be prideful and jockey for promotion, or believe their opinion is the best and they become critical of others. If anyone becomes critical, please encourage them to talk with a Leader, Elder or me.

Godly ambition never competes; it always encourages and edifies those around you.
Phil 2:1-4 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Unity: like-minded, same love, one accord, one mind…beautiful! Unity brings God’s anointing and His glory!

Our greatest strengths can be our greatest weakness. Christians that are gifted and ones who are very intelligent, can be very difficult to work with. They are hard to teach because they think they know everything, or their talent is superior. Once we think this way, we are seeking our personal glory, we want to be acknowledged. If we are on a team, we worry about others making us “look bad.” We are more concerned with building our own name over the name of Jesus.

-The depth of our humility will determine the height of our authority-

Mat 5:16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. 

Rom 12:16  Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. 

Jas_4:6  But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "GOD RESISTS THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE."
Jas 4:10  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. 

1Pe 5:2  Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3  nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; 4  and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. 5  Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "GOD RESISTS THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE." 

1Pe 5:6  Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7  casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 

Pride says “I got this!” and humility says “God’s got this!” Pride is very deceptive.

Godly ambition always operates with integrity and agape love.
We never compromise our integrity in order to make ourselves look good or to get ahead, nor do we want to make someone look bad so we look better. We still need to speak the truth, but with a heart of righteousness.

Success is not based on a preconceived outcome. We cannot say “if this and this happens, we are a success.” Success is being obedient to Jesus and trusting in Him no matter the outcome.
Excellence: doing your very best at the level you are at.

The 3 Pillars of Humility: Teachable, Submitted to Authority, and Correctable.

Teachable
Pro 1:2-7  To know wisdom and instruction (teachable) To perceive the words of understanding, 3  To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity; 4  To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion— 5  A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, 6  To understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles. 7  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction. Pro 9:9  Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. Pro 11:2  When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom. Self-conceit is unteachable.

Submitted to Authority: In order to be “in” authority we have to be “under”
Mat 8:8-10  The centurion answered and said, "Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. 9  For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." 10  When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, "Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! I call this “Great Faith Leadership.” The Centurian had great faith in authority/words.

Correction
Heb 12:5-8  And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "MY SON, DO NOT DESPISE THE CHASTENING OF THE LORD, NOR BE DISCOURAGED WHEN YOU ARE REBUKED BY HIM; 6  FOR WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE CHASTENS, AND SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES." 7  If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8  But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 
Heb 13:17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. A humble-obedient heart.
Obedience; assenting to someone else’s direction. Submission; yielding one’s contrary opinion in favor of another’s. It is good to question and express our difference of opinion, but it is how we respond to that discussion that will reflect what is in our heart; humility leading to unity, or pride leading to division.

The greatest humility is to realize we need a Savior, that we have sinned, and we need to repent.