Balancing Ambition and Humility

**Sermon Title: Navigating Ambition with a Heart of Humility**

**Opening:**

We live in a world that pushes us to chase success, to climb the ladder, and to promote ourselves. But Philippians 2:3 tells us something different: *“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.”* Today, we’re going to look at how ambition and humility aren’t opposites. When our ambition aligns with God’s purposes, it’s not only good but necessary. True greatness is about serving, not being served.

Can We Be Ambitious as Christians?**

Many Christians wrestle with the question: *Is it okay to be ambitious as a follower of Christ?* Does striving for greatness mean we’re being prideful? The answer is, it depends on the *why* behind our ambition.

We need to ask: **Is my ambition selfish, or is it for God’s glory?**

**1. Ambition is good when Aligned with God’s Purposes**

When ambition is aligned with God’s plan, it leads to great things. Look at Joseph. Despite being sold into slavery and thrown into prison, Joseph didn’t give up his dreams. He continued to work hard, trusting in God’s timing, and eventually rose to power, saving Egypt and his own family during a famine (Genesis 50:20). Joseph’s ambition wasn’t about himself—it was about God’s greater purpose.

### **Contemporary Illustration:**

Steve Jobs was relentless in his ambition, often seeking personal recognition. By contrast, Truett Cathy, the founder of Chick-fil-A, pursued success with a higher purpose—honoring God in his business. Cathy’s decision to close his stores on Sundays, even though it cost him money, was about aligning his work with his values. He wasn’t chasing profit at all costs; he was chasing God’s principles.

Ambition, when aligned with God's purposes, can lead to extraordinary outcomes. We see countless examples in Scripture where God called individuals to pursue great things, not for their own glory but for His. However, it's important to recognize that not everyone will understand or support your God-given ambition. Sometimes, even fellow believers may discourage you, mistaking your faith-driven courage for prideful ambition.

In 1 Samuel 17, we find a striking example of this in the life of David. As David arrived at the battlefield, hearing Goliath's taunts against Israel, he was filled with righteous indignation and a burning desire to defend God’s honor. David asked, *“Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”* (1 Samuel 17:26).

1 Samuel 17:26–28 CSB

26 David spoke to the men who were standing with him: “What will be done for the man who kills that Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” 27 The troops told him about the offer, concluding, “That is what will be done for the man who kills him.” 28 David’s oldest brother Eliab listened as he spoke to the men, and he became angry with him. “Why did you come down here?” he asked. “Who did you leave those few sheep with in the wilderness? I know your arrogance and your evil heart—you came down to see the battle!”

In 1 Samuel 17, we find a striking example of this in the life of David. As David arrived at the battlefield, hearing Goliath's taunts against Israel, he was filled with righteous indignation and a burning desire to defend God’s honor. David asked, *“Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”* (1 Samuel 17:26).

But instead of encouragement, David’s older brother Eliab sneered at him, saying, *“Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle”* (1 Samuel 17:28).

Eliab, David's older brother, accused him of being prideful when David stepped up to fight Goliath. But Eliab was wrong. He was seeing things from a human point of view, not God's. Sometimes, people may try to stop us from doing what’s right for God, just like Peter did when he tried to talk Jesus out of going to the cross. Peter had just been praised for understanding who Jesus was, but right after that, Jesus had to correct him and say, "Get behind me, Satan," because Peter was letting fear take over.

We shouldn’t let people like that hold us back, even if they seem wise, have been in the church for a long time, or if others agree with them. David was the only one willing to stand up for God that day. Most people act from fear because the natural human heart is weak and worldly. Many who criticize those serving God are actually scared to try big things for Him. They call for retreat when God is calling for courage.

David’s heart was different—it was full of a desire to glorify God. Eliab’s criticism wasn’t based on truth, but on his own fear and cowardice. He mocked David because he didn’t have the courage to trust God himself. But David’s ambition was right—it was about defeating the enemy and defending God's name.

### ** 1A. Do Not Let Worldly Believers Undermine God-Given Ambition**

Like David, we may encounter people—even other believers—who misunderstand or criticize our ambition. They might accuse us of being self-centered or overreaching, when in reality, we are trying to fulfill the calling that God has placed in our hearts. Eliab’s mocking wasn’t born out of David’s pride, but out of his own fear and insecurity. Sometimes, people project their own limitations or lack of faith onto us.

This is a powerful reminder to be discerning about whose voices we allow to influence our journey. **Just because someone doubts you doesn’t mean God hasn’t called you.** Do not let the fear or insecurity of others prevent you from stepping into the God-given ambition He has placed in you.

**Ambition, when aligned with godliness, is a good thing because it honors God.** God is glorified when we, like David, step forward in faith and attempt great things for Him. David did not shrink back in fear like the rest of the Israelite army, nor did he allow the discouragement of others to deter him. He knew the battle was the Lord’s and that **greatness comes from trusting in God’s power, not our own.**

### **Action Step:**

This week, take stock of the voices you’re listening to. Are there “Eliabs” in your life discouraging you from stepping into God’s plan? Or are you focusing on God’s voice, calling you to attempt something great? Commit to silencing the doubts and fears of others and pursuing what God has placed on your heart with boldness and humility.

1B. God Wants Us to Attempt Great Things for Him**

We are not called to smallness but to greatness in God’s Kingdom. This isn’t about boasting in our abilities, but about recognizing that God is great, and He calls us to do great things for His glory. As the Apostle Paul reminds us in

1 Corinthians 1:31 CSB

31 —in order that, as it is written: Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.

*“Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”* If God has called you to something big, pursue it with all your heart—not to glorify yourself, but to glorify Him who has given you the ambition and ability.

Imagine the impact if David had let an improper view of humility stop him when he stood before Goliath. His brother, Eliab, tried to shame him for stepping up, accusing him of pride. But David wasn’t acting out of selfish ambition; he was stepping into the calling God had placed on his life. If David had confused his boldness for pride or false ambition, he might have walked away from the battlefield, and God’s plan to defeat Goliath might have been delayed.

God calls us to attempt great things for Him, not to shy away under the guise of false humility. As the Apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 10:17: “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” The greatness we seek is not for our own glory but for the glory of God, who calls us to use our talents, influence, and ambition for His Kingdom.

William Carey, the father of modern missions, famously said, *“Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.”* This sentiment echoes the truth that our ambition, when rooted in God’s greatness and aligned with His will, is not pride but faith. We attempt great things because God is great, and we are here to glorify Him through our work, our gifts, and our ambitions.

Have you ever rejected an opportunity because you thought you were being "too ambitious" when God was actually opening a door for you? Could you be shrinking back from greatness because you’ve confused humility with passivity?

God has great plans for you. Humility doesn't mean shrinking back from those plans. It means stepping forward boldly, knowing that your ambition is not about you but about glorifying God. Remember, false humility can shut off God’s great plans for your life, and we must not allow that to happen.

Our ambition, too, should be aligned with God’s purposes, seeking not just personal achievement but the advancement of His Kingdom and the well-being of others.

### **Action Step:**

Take a moment this week to ask yourself: **Are my ambitions aligned with God’s purposes for my life?** Are you chasing success for yourself, or are you striving to use your talents and position for God’s glory and the good of those around you?

**2. Humility Honors Others and Reflects Christ**

Humility doesn’t mean shrinking back. It means using our strengths to serve others. Jesus gave us the perfect example of humility when He washed His disciples’ feet in John 13. Even though He was the Son of God, He humbled Himself to serve. Humility isn’t about being weak—it’s about valuing others and lifting them up.

### **Contemporary Illustration:**

Howard Schultz, the former CEO of Starbucks, built one of the most successful companies in the world, but he didn’t do it by putting himself first. He visited stores, connected with employees, and listened to their needs. His leadership was marked by humility—valuing others’ contributions and serving them. He wasn’t just about making profits; he was about building a company that cared for people.

### **Action Step:**

This week, take time to honor someone else’s achievements. It could be a co-worker, a friend, or a family member. Instead of taking credit, give credit where it’s due. Reflect Christ’s humility by lifting others up.

**3. Serving Rather Than Climbing the Ladder**

The world tells us to step over others to climb higher, but Jesus teaches the opposite. In Matthew 20:26, Jesus says, *“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.”* Greatness in God’s Kingdom is about serving others and fulfilling His mission, not seeking personal glory.

Godly ambition doesn’t look like getting ahead by stepping on or over others. Godly ambitions sets high goals for God’s glory. It stops along the way to see others, serve them and by example invite them to join you in pursuing their best. God made each and every person destined for glory with Him. It’s up to us to choose to do so. It’s also His great ambition that we will be an example and encouragement to others to become the best version of themselves according to God’s purpose!

Don’t conform to the world, but rather let the Mind of Christ transform your understanding of success and ambition. Just because others are going a particular way, make it your ambition to achieve things that build up God’s Kingdom and others!

### **Fred Rogers’ Example:**

Fred Rogers, the beloved host of *Mister Rogers' Neighborhood*, had ambition, but it was rooted in service. He wanted to create television that nurtured children emotionally and spiritually. When other TV shows were fast-paced and flashy, he chose a quiet, thoughtful approach because he knew that’s what children needed. His ambition wasn’t for personal fame; it was for the well-being of his audience, and it reflected God’s heart.

### **Action Step:**

This week, look for ways to serve someone else’s needs. It could be at work, in your family, or in your community. Find a hidden need that no one else is noticing and meet it. True service doesn’t follow the crowd; it sees what’s important and takes action.

### **The Abraham Wald Story: Service Isn't Following the Crowd**

In World War II, mathematician Abraham Wald provided a critical insight when analyzing returning bomber planes. Most people thought they should reinforce the areas where the planes had the most bullet holes, but Wald pointed out that those planes survived because those areas weren’t fatal. The planes that didn’t return were hit in the unmarked areas. **Wald’s insight saved lives because he didn’t follow the obvious path; he looked for what was truly needed.**

In the same way, true service is about seeing and addressing what’s overlooked. Sometimes, the most important work happens behind the scenes, where no one’s watching.

**Real service focuses on what’s right for the mission, not on getting recognition.**

### **Action Step:**

At work this week, find an area that’s vulnerable or overlooked. It could be supporting a struggling co-worker, addressing a hidden problem, or helping someone in need. Serve in a way that aligns with God’s mission, even if it goes unnoticed.

Navigating ambition with a heart of humility means moving beyond the world’s definition of success. It means recognizing that ambition isn’t bad, but it needs to be aligned with God’s purposes. It means understanding that humility doesn’t make us weak—it makes us strong in Christ because it honors others and reflects His example. And it means choosing to serve not as an afterthought, but as a central part of our calling.

True service isn’t about following the crowd or doing what gets the most attention. It’s about doing what’s right for the mission, like Abraham Wald reinforcing the unseen vulnerabilities. Jesus calls us to do the same—to serve others in ways that might go unnoticed by the world but are deeply significant in the Kingdom of God.

So this week, let’s commit to **building others up**, finding unseen ways to serve, and aligning our ambition with God’s purposes. When we do, we don’t just change our own lives; we transform the world around us.

**Conclusion:**

Navigating ambition with humility means understanding that ambition isn’t bad—it just needs to be aligned with God’s purposes. Humility isn’t about weakness; it’s about lifting others up, serving with strength, and reflecting Christ’s example. This week, let’s commit to pursuing our God-given ambition with boldness and humility. Let’s build others up, serve in unseen ways, and use our ambition to glorify God.

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**Sermon Title: Navigating Ambition with a Heart of Humility**

**Opening:**

We live in a world driven by ambition, where the pressure to rise above the rest is strong. Everywhere we turn, we are told that success means climbing the ladder, promoting ourselves, and accumulating power. But the Bible offers us a radically different vision of greatness—one that challenges us to rethink ambition through the lens of humility.

Philippians 2:3 gives us this profound instruction: *“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.”* This goes against the grain of our culture. But as we’ll see today, aligning our ambition with God’s purposes doesn’t mean avoiding success; it means pursuing it for the right reasons—with a heart that seeks to serve rather than to be served.

Philippians 2:3 CSB

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.

After discussing the natural allure of ambition and the virtue of humility, it's important to pause and ask a question that many Christians wrestle with: Is it possible to be a true disciple of Christ and still have ambition? When you feel a burning desire to achieve something significant, to step into a role of influence, or to pursue great things for God, do you ever feel a twinge of guilt or confusion?

Do you wonder, "Is this selfish ambition? Shouldn't I be more humble?" Perhaps you've internalized the idea that humility means never seeking greatness, never striving for more, and never aiming high.

This sermon will help us understand how ambition and humility can go hand in hand, how serving doesn’t mean weakness, and how true service is about doing what is right for the mission, even when it’s unnoticed by others.

**1. Ambition is Good When Aligned with God’s Purposes**

Ambition, when directed toward God’s purpose, can be a force for great good. Joseph in the Bible didn’t abandon his ambitions when he was sold into slavery or imprisoned. Instead, he trusted God’s timing and rose to power to save Egypt and his own family during a famine (Genesis 50:20). Joseph’s ambition was never about personal gain; it was about fulfilling the purpose God had for him.

### **Contemporary Illustration:**

Steve Jobs, while relentless in his ambition, often sought success for personal recognition. On the other hand, Truett Cathy, the founder of Chick-fil-A, pursued success with a higher purpose—building a company that reflected Christian principles, including honoring God and serving people. Closing his stores on Sundays, even though it meant losing profits, was a testimony of how ambition, when aligned with God’s purposes, doesn’t chase every dollar but follows what is right.

**1. Ambition is Good When Aligned with God’s Purposes**

Ambition, when aligned with God's purposes, can lead to extraordinary outcomes. We see countless examples in Scripture where God called individuals to pursue great things, not for their own glory but for His. However, it's important to recognize that not everyone will understand or support your God-given ambition. Sometimes, even fellow believers may discourage you, mistaking your faith-driven courage for prideful ambition.

1 Samuel 17:26–28 CSB

26 David spoke to the men who were standing with him: “What will be done for the man who kills that Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” 27 The troops told him about the offer, concluding, “That is what will be done for the man who kills him.” 28 David’s oldest brother Eliab listened as he spoke to the men, and he became angry with him. “Why did you come down here?” he asked. “Who did you leave those few sheep with in the wilderness? I know your arrogance and your evil heart—you came down to see the battle!”

In 1 Samuel 17, we find a striking example of this in the life of David. As David arrived at the battlefield, hearing Goliath's taunts against Israel, he was filled with righteous indignation and a burning desire to defend God’s honor. David asked, *“Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”* (1 Samuel 17:26).

But instead of encouragement, David’s older brother Eliab sneered at him, saying, *“Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle”* (1 Samuel 17:28).

Eliab accused David of prideful ambition. People who assign motives to others or you, especially when you sense to the call to act upon truth and integrity for the Lord reveals that they operate from a worldly mindset. Remember Peter tried to dissuade Jesus from the glory of the cross. Peter had just received a commendation for a great insight, yet the worst condemnation came from Christ moments later when Peter revealed his own fear and doubt about doing great things from God. The Lord Christ Himself said, “Get behind me Satan.”

Don’t be swayed by such men and women. It doesn’t matter how old they are, how long they claim to be part of God’s family, how many titles or degrees they hold. How many people agree with them. David was the only one who stood for the Lord that day. Remember, the default heart is a worldly heart so that will come out more often then courage. Most people who criticize those serving God openly simply reflect their own fear and willingness to attempt great things for God. They sound the retreat when God sounds the trumpet for courage and glory. The Bible records the reality, David’s heart was pure, filled with a passion to glorify God. Eliab’s rebuke was a reflection of his own cowardice, veiled behind mockery. He misinterpreted David’s courage and willingness to attempt great things for God as mere arrogance. **In truth, David’s ambition was aligned with God’s purpose: to defeat the enemy and defend God’s name.**

### ** 1A. Do Not Let Worldly Believers Undermine God-Given Ambition**

Like David, we may encounter people—even other believers—who misunderstand or criticize our ambition. They might accuse us of being self-centered or overreaching, when in reality, we are trying to fulfill the calling that God has placed in our hearts. Eliab’s mocking wasn’t born out of David’s pride, but out of his own fear and insecurity. Sometimes, people project their own limitations or lack of faith onto us.

This is a powerful reminder to be discerning about whose voices we allow to influence our journey. **Just because someone doubts you doesn’t mean God hasn’t called you.** Do not let the fear or insecurity of others prevent you from stepping into the God-given ambition He has placed in you.

**Ambition, when aligned with godliness, is a good thing because it honors God.** God is glorified when we, like David, step forward in faith and attempt great things for Him. David did not shrink back in fear like the rest of the Israelite army, nor did he allow the discouragement of others to deter him. He knew the battle was the Lord’s and that **greatness comes from trusting in God’s power, not our own.**

### **Action Step:**

This week, take stock of the voices you’re listening to. Are there “Eliabs” in your life discouraging you from stepping into God’s plan? Or are you focusing on God’s voice, calling you to attempt something great? Commit to silencing the doubts and fears of others and pursuing what God has placed on your heart with boldness and humility.

### ** 1B. God Wants Us to Attempt Great Things for Him**