Just wondering what selfish ambition is....Is it wrong to want to achieve great things which are not neccessarily kingdom focused?(I am aware that the gospel needs to go out , but I have other interests as well and sometimes struggle to reconcile this fact with the fact that I want to flourish and not merely survive.)
It is not wrong to want to achieve, to accomplish. God put this desire in us. It can become wrong when it begins to take first place in our lives, when we put our own desires and goals ahead of God. It can be wrong when we use wrong methods to get ahead. Everyone has seen someone prosper by dirty politics, whether in the political arena or the office or at the jobsite. This becomes selfish ambition when we desire to get ahead, to be recognized and are willing to use unGodly methods to achieve it...
Eph 6:5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
Eph 6:6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
Eph 6:7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
Col 3:22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
Col 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Col 3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
Col 3:25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
Here is a suggestion, read one chapter of Proverbs daily (notice there are 31?) and 5 Psalms daily (notice there are 150?). Repeat monthly. This regimen will help one to focus on the correct attitude and give one wisdom beyond any of your piers.
