What Does the Bible Say About Ambition? | Mark 10:35-45

Summary

Continuing our current sermon series, A Bible-Revering Church, Kylen Perry, Young Adults Director, looks at what the Bible says about ambition. Ambition is a powerful motivating force in the human experience that can either bless us or blind us depending how we handle it. It can lead us to do things no one else ever could, or it can lead you to do things no one else ever would. So he answers this question: What principles should direct our ambitions in life?

Key Takeaways

• Ambition can confuse our mission in life (Mark 10:35-37). The reality of ambition isn’t bad, but the reason for your ambition can be. Worldly ambition works for worth, while godly ambition works from worth. Our mission isn’t to seat ourselves in significance, but to point to the One already sitting there.
• Ambition can impair your perspective (Mark 10:38-40). Our desires for what’s ahead can distract us from what’s at hand. God doesn’t want us so focused on tomorrow that we forget about today.
• Ambition can turn friends into foes (Mark 10:41). Their ambition led to exclusion, and the same happens with us. The relentless pursuit of something can become the reckless treatment of someone. It’s easy to miss what matters to God when you’re only focused on what matters to you. We can turn friends into foes four ways:
  • Competition: we make someone out to be an enemy.
  • Comparison: we make some the object of our envy.
  • Criticism: we make someone the target of our scrutiny.
  • Cliques: we make someone the subject of our exclusivity.
• Gospel Remedy: The difference between worldly ambition and godly ambition is that one aims to be significant, while the other aims to be a servant (Mark 10:42-45).
  • Jesus’ ambition didn’t confuse His mission in life, but clarified it.
  • Jesus’ ambition didn’t impair His perspective, but focused it.
  • Jesus’ ambition didn’t turn friends into foes, but turned foes into friends.
• Christ’s ambition and mission to seek, to save, and serve has changed everything for you and for me.

Discussing and Applying the Sermon

• Has your ambition confused your mission? Your mission in life isn’t to land that job, or get into that school, or be in that social circle, or buy that second home, or have that type of body. Your mission in life isn’t to prove you matter. It’s to display that He matters.
• Has your ambition impaired your perspective? Are you so focused on tomorrow that you’ve forgotten about today? Here are some diagnostic examples to consider:
  • God, if I could just get that role. But what about the role I’ve already given you? How are you witnessing in that place?
  • God, if I could just get my kid on that team. But what about the team they’re already on? How are you loving those kids and their parents?
  • God, if I could just live in that neighborhood. But what about the neighborhood I’ve already given you? How are you serving those neighbors?
• Discuss examples from Scripture that encourage you to trust Him for today (e.g., Matthew 6:25-34; Romans 8:31-39). How can your community group help you trust him?
• Do you struggle with competition, comparison, criticism, and/or cliques? Read 2 Corinthians 5:14-15. How does meditating on the gospel and God’s love in Christ, both for you and for His people, help you walk in freedom from these sins?
• How does Christ’s finished mission to seek, save, and serve change everything for you? How does His perfect life, death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and intercession free you to live in Him for His glory and your good?