Caution: Don't Be Too Ambitious

Is ambition wrong? 

Can there be a right ambition and thus a wrong ambition?  

I particularly like the challenge of this question as it poses the perplex paradox of pursuing greatness as gain (being the best person I can be) or for profit (solely monetary gains).  What man doesn’t want to be great?  What man doesn’t have great plans in his heart that he puts into motion, all the while utilizing the skills and talents that are God given to get there? Understanding this, I believe the pursuit is not wrong, but the motivation – ultimately, why I am pursuing – distinguishes good ambition from bad ambition.  Am I aware of God’s glory and all the praise He deserves as a result of my attaining greatness?  To see greatness, to have it in my sight implies that I am operating on a higher plateau. Understanding that I have been raised [with Christ], and therefore my heart has been set on things above [my previous standard for and of excellence]. To graduate to high school means I can’t go back and be the best eighth grader, ever.  I no longer operate on that [lower] plateau.  I adhere to new rules; often more stricter and specific rules now that I have graduated.  A new discipline is needed. Paul suggests that whatever I do, be sincere; whatever I do, ask how am I using the gifts and talents God has given me and how does He want me to use them. 

I exist for God’s pleasure – pleasure fully acknowledged when I work with passion and excellence for His sake, not mine.  For His service and not personal profit, since I know that I will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It’s all about God’s goals, accomplished through my assignments. My chief instruction for living is to please God (1 Thess 4:1)

I am ambitious – this is by design.  I undertake projects in a month that outnumber what another would do in six months or for the whole year.  But the moment my work efforts lacks zest, passion, contagion, expectancy and excitement, I am not operating as designed. 

Be fully functioning: what I do, do it heartily as unto the Lord.

Colossians 3
1 Thessalonians 4

Too much ambition will result in a promotion to a job you cannot do. Have ambitions but know limitations. Limitations are the balance to ambitious endeavors.