Can Ambition Be Godly?
What connotations do you have with the word “ambitious”? Would you consider someone who is ambitious to be godly, or would you instead consider all ambition to root itself in selfish conceit? As a Christian, should ambition be a characteristic that is encouraged or discouraged in an effort to live a godly, Christian-centered life? How can we ensure our ambitions honor God and do not flatter ourselves in the process?
Motive and Movement
The motive of a pursuit is indicative of the fruit that will be born and brought forth. Motive is the driving factor, the why, and an indicator of whether the fruit will be self-serving or Christ-honoring. This is not to say that God cannot use anything, even ill-planted seeds, for a greater, God-glorifying purpose. It is, however, a reminder that as true followers of God, it is imperative that we conduct an honest assessment of our own motives in our hearts. The trajectory forward afterward will be helped or hindered by this motive; however, it is the holy motive that can call rightly upon the Lord for help when testing and trials come about. It is in that period that the revelation will come forward if it is an idol or something earnestly done for the Lord.
Is it an Idol?
An Idol is not merely a figurine carved of wood or stone that receives devotion and worship, as often depicted in ancient times. An idol is anything that comes before God in what you honor and adore most, or a wedge between you and the Lord. If an ambition is an idol, it will not always be clear in the beginning, and even goals that begin godly can find themselves ensnared when temptation erupts. A good way to discern whether something is an idol or not is to ask the Lord to provide clarity and truth in the situation. In Psalm 139:23-24, David leads by example of how to inquire of the Lord for a deeper revelation, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.” God is the Only One Who can correctly judge and offer a verdict, and we must be willing to humble ourselves to accept His judgment when we ask such a heavy question showcased in this Psalm. When we accept His answer, we can then humble ourselves before the Lord and inquire how we may adjust, change, or surrender the situation at His feet, so that the proper order of Lordship in our heart places God at the top. We serve a God Who is not callous to our weakness; rather, we serve a God Who wants to help us live the best life possible, but we must be willing to ask for assistance. Idols only hold power as long as we enable them to have such control.
Surrender to His Will and Path
God knows more than we do, and ambition is often a characteristic and quality He equips us with so that we may stay the course when things get difficult. Not all difficulty is due to a heart problem, and not all hardship is sent to stir you up from the Enemy, but in every and all bumps you encounter, God wants to guide you. True Godly ambition must include the surrender and submission of selfish control to His Will and path. Proverbs 3:5-6 shares, “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and lean not on your own understanding, but in all ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight.” This verse reminds us that the reality of following God may result in the exact opposite of what we logically conclude is the right path, and it implies the necessity of kneeling to His command over our preferences. When we do this, the true purpose of the quality of ambition within you thrives, for it is for His glory, not your own.
Need-to-Know Basis
When the path is offered to the Lord, every step becomes one taken before Him before it is implemented. Psalm 119:105-108, 124-25 moves us to pray the prayer of, “Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path. I have taken an oath and confirmed that I will follow your righteous laws. I have suffered much; preserve my life, Lord, according to your words. Accept, Lord, the willing praise of my mouth, and teach me your laws.... Deal with your servant according to your love and teach me your decrees. I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes.” Let His Word to you be it through Scripture or His still, small voice guide you step-by-step. Remember that God has us on a need-to-know basis, meaning that if we listen to and pursue Him, we will receive the information we need to know at the time we need it. Let His Light and Word be the genesis of every and any step, for if it is authored by Him, it is always the next best step.
Eyes on Christ, the Real Goal
Another litmus test of ambition’s core is to ask yourself, “Are my eyes on myself or a fleshly group, or are my eyes upon the Real Goal of Jesus Christ?” Paul reminds us not to fall prey to ambitions rooted in oneself, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
Jesus lived by example to show us how to allow ambition to be a vehicle when flesh cries out, when fear taunts, or when ego pokes, for He was tempted and did not fall into sin despite bearing every weakness of humanity as we do. Instead, He was obedient to the point of death on a cross, thinking of us the entire time. In our own lives, we must keep our eyes fixed not on ourselves, our circumstances, or anything or anyone else, but on the Lord. When our eyes are on the real goal, the glory of God and His Kingdom, it is there that we experience truly Godly ambition, and we can, without guilt or shame, enjoy the fruit that is born on this side and in all of eternity. As Oswald Chambers shared in My Utmost for His Highest, he understands now the "reality of God." “My goal is God Himself…at any cost, dear Lord, by any road.” Ambition is a tool that can be mishandled by flesh when Satan tempts us or when we get in our own way, but when Christ is the goal, and when you seek the Lord for the next steps, you will see that ambition is a gift from our gracious Father.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/MoMo Productions
Originally published November 20, 2025.
