“Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.” –Psalms 131:1
Ambition is a funny thing, like water, too much or too little can be harmful. When we become complacent and slothful, it is detrimental to us and those around us. If we look to achieve that which is not in the will of God; or meddle in matters where we are not meant to be, this too can be damaging. Is there such a thing as too much ambition? As Christians, can we have error in our ambition? Is there something wrong in wanting to achieve? What hurt could come from wanting more?
Through inspired words, the beautiful book of Psalms delineates the scope of human emotion. It is the heart of David poured out on page, with prophecy, doctrine, poetry, exhortation, and much more intertwined. David was the second king of Israel behind Saul. The reason Saul was not king was because his heart was haughty, eyes lofty, and he exercised himself in matters/things too high for him. King David, the author of the book of Psalms, saw firsthand the effect of being too ambitious. When Saul was instructed to kill the Amalekites, the prophet (voice of God) Samuel told him kill all; leave neither man nor beast. Saul decided to keep the best of the flock, saying the people wanted to offer it as a sacrifice to God. He manipulated the commandment of God to suit his own personal desires. He wanted the spoil, the people wanted sacrifice, and nobody stopped to consider what God wanted. Saul was anointed king under God over the people of Israel, and he spent too much time thinking about how he was over the people, and not enough time considering that he was under God. His ambition lifted his heart beyond his authority; outside of his occupation, he lost the kingdom (and eventually his life) because of it. David took instruction from this, and his ambition was only towards the things of God. The desire to praise him, to worship him, and to fight for him was David’s heart; even in his sinfulness he saw that God and God alone was who the offence was against (Psalms 51). He loved God more than the praise of men. He loved God more than this world. He loved God and God was the guide of his life. As followers of Christ, living dead to this world, and alive to God; the ambition that takes us outside of the commandments of God it is an error of ambition. The ambition that carries us to a place where we “fear the people”, is misplaced. Saul’s greatest sin was that he loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. Therefore, he was unfit to lead. Across the world there are pastors, teachers, bishops, board of directors and many more in leadership roles who are sacrificing the will of God for the praise of men. They are doing it because their ambition has carried them outside their occupation. It will do the same to you and me if we are not careful. You can want a scholarship, job, property, or possession so much that it carries you to a place where you forget God. Many a man has wanted better for his family only to find himself traveling all over the world and neglecting his family. His kids may have a first-class education, but they don’t have a first-class father. Many a minister had every room in the church filled, with no room for God in the church. Many a mother laid aside being a mother to become an executive. You can have ambition to be a pastor of a certain church or a bishop over a certain circuit. A leader or minister. But the question must be raised: Is this God’s will? Or our will for ourselves? It is a careful thing. Is God simply a means to your end? If so, he won’t be and your end is doomed.
Satan is subtle, but God is greater and knoweth all things. We can take instruction from scripture and find that humility, and a fixed eye of Christ is the antidote to haughty, lofty ambition. When our “eye is single” focused only on Christ and what He wills, the rest is distilled into its proper form. When our greatest desire is for Him to guide our lives, there is no error in this ambition.
