Inordinate ambition is easily defined by greed, fleshly lust, self-glorification, egoism and insatiable desire for wealth. This has been taken too far and has been misunderstood for passion, but it's not. However, no one becomes successful without ambition.
Ambition as earlier discussed can be defined as the urge to climb the next step in the ladder of success. It is a cherished, conceived desire and a strong drive for success. It is the readiness to give all it takes to achieve a certain goal in life.
Moreover, ambition is generally borne out of the passion to become, to have, to possess and to dominate. Man was originally wired or designed by God with the ambition to become, to have, to possess, and to dominate. Genesis 1:27-28, "So God created man in his image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28, And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth". This simply means man is naturally an ambitious being.
Today, you must be ambitious even for the plan of God to be realistic in your life. 1Corinthins 14:1, "Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy". The word desire in the sentence above says it all about ambition. Gifts of the Spirit are available for all to profit withal, however, it is not forced on anybody, you must be ambitious to receive. 1Corinthians 12:7, "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal".
Another instance is found in Mark 11:24, "Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them". Many people could not get answers to their prayers today because there is no desire which is interpreted as ambition. But if it is desired and it's according to the will of God, Jesus said, believe that you have received them and you shall have them. May you receive answers to all your heart desires in Jesus name.
You may not be able to go higher in life except you are ambitious. To climb any ladder of success in life, ambition is required. No one became a doctor, engineer, teacher, politician, lawyer, president, governor and so on without ambition. Even when you are suddenly called into the ministry, you have to build a desire to work for God; otherwise, you will end up a failure in such ministry. May you never fail in your ministry in Jesus name.
"Ambition is what prepares you in the place of aspiration for a position you are yet to acquire".
Your next level in life is only determined by how ambitious you are.
Ambition works hand in hand with your dream, goal and purpose in life.
From our studies so far, it is crystal clear, ambition can be appropriate and as well can be inordinate. It depends on the motives behind it.
When it is handled with the required enthusiasm powered by the original plan and will of God without selfish or self-centred aggrandizement, it is an appropriate ambition.
Mark 10:35-43 revealed the ambition of two sons of Zebedee who happened to be among the disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. James and John in their outright bid for greatness bluntly came to Jesus, and they asked Him to allow them to sit next to Him in the kingdom of God. In a carnal sense of reasoning, this was too straightforward a request, as well as an ambition to be greater than the rest of the group. While this would be hypocritically condemned by men, Jesus never condemned them. Rather, He showed them how this can be achieved. This is an example of an appropriate ambition because it is the will of God that man sits with Jesus in His kingdom. John 14:1, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2, In my Father's house, are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3, And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also". Brothers and sisters, how ambitious are you about heaven? Where do you want to sit in the kingdom of God? Whether you like it or not, you must desire it, pursue it because this is the only way you will end up achieving it.
May you end up in heaven with God in Jesus name.
WHAT APPROPRIATE AMBITION WILL DO FOR YOU
1. Ambition will give you a push to become inquisitive about your goal. Mark 10:35-37, "And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. 36, And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? 37, They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory".
2. Ambition will give you a push to do whatever it takes to realize your dream. Proverbs 18:1 Through desire, a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.
· It was ambition that helped Zacchaeus to do what he did that qualified him for divine recognition that led to his spectacular salvation. Luke 19:2-5, "And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. 3, And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. 4, And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. 5, And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for today I must abide at thy house".
· It was ambition that brought the thief by the right hand of Jesus to receive forgiveness even at the point of death and at the last minutes of his life. Luke 23:32-43
3. Ambition will avail you of the opportunity to know the right way of achieving your goal.
- It was ambition that made Jesus tell John and James with the rest of the Apostles how to achieve their goal. Mark 10:42-45, "But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. 43, But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: 44, And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be a servant of all. 45, For even the Son of Man, came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many".
- Being conscious of his little stature, it was ambition that made Zacchaeus prepared ahead of time before the arrival of Jesus Christ in Jericho by climbing the Sycamore tree to see Jesus which brought him spectacular salvation that we are talking about today. Luke 19:1-10
4. Ambition will make you become a successful man in life.
Proverbs 10:24, "The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted".
Matthew 5:6, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled".
Psalm 145:19, "He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them".
Psalm 37:4, "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart".
5. Ambition will hand over to you the secret to the realization of your dream. Mark 10:43, "But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: 44, "And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be a servant of all".
HOW TO REALIZE YOUR AMBITION
1. Let it be in line with God's purpose for this earth. Genesis 1:27-28, "So God created man in his image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28, And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth".
2. Never attach a selfish or self-centred glory to your goal. Do it all for God!
3. Do not try to achieve your goal alone, always go hand in hand with God, be prayerful! (Remember the tower of Babel)
4. Be a servant to your subjects. (Remember what Jesus told the disciples)
In conclusion, inordinate ambition is the starting point of menace that is ravaging our society today. Ambition in the right perspective will help us to savage the damage that has been done already. Nevertheless, Jesus has revealed the greatest secret to realizing our ambition, dream and purpose in life, all we have to do, is, to make sure our ambition is service-oriented and thereby serve.
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