Begin with question: Are you an ambitious person? (or What do you think of when you think of
ambition?)
May cause some mixed feelings… because the idea of ambition conjure up and capture very different
things.
Ambition isn’t something we have to be taught…
• Don’t have to put ambition in the heart… it’s there … though often quenched along the way.
• Ask a child.. whatever they come to like… they want to be the greatest.
• My kids… NBA… professional soccer player… they have it all planned out..
• No one says I want to start a business… to be mediocre… I want to grow up and become
dependent.
• We are pulled… drawn towards greatness.
We all have at least the traces of ambition at work in us…
Ambition = an aim or objective that somebody is trying to achieve; one’s aspiration, desire,
drive, determination
Today… God wants to challenge our sense of ambition.
Series: Extraordinary Living… hearing the heart of the Apostle Paul… transformed… impacted
civilization.
Paul knew a lot about ambition… but what was common… has now been filled with something
uncommon… extraordinary.
In response to some potential rivalry between a couple good members of the Philippians’ church… he
writes these words.:
1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his
love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy
complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do
nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than
yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests
of others.
Many have considered these the most beautiful words of the New Testament… some the most
challenging words of the New Testament.
Many of us may read these words and assume that they are call to get rid of ambition.
This is not a call to quench our ambition but to exchange it… a call from ordinary
ambition to extraordinary ambition.
Often told ambition itself is a sin….
> Do nothing out of SELFISH ambition.
Ambition is used as positive except when selfish.
Paul said, ’Do nothing out of selfish ambition.’… not ‘do nothing.’.
God created you to be ambitious…Ambition itself is a good thing… a gift from God.
2
The issue isn’t ambition… but the type. You need ambition. Every life is intended to embrace it’s
creative nature and it’s power to influence… to effect the world around them.
Actually Paul speaks of a new ambition…
> . 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider
others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own
interests, but also to the interests of others.
Christ has come not to quench our ambition but to transform it… to change the
very center of our drive and determination from self to servant.
The new ambition which Christ imparts is to become a servant of others for God.
Background to the human story… angels created to glorify God… but one who we later have
referred to as the devil or Satan… who sought that glory. Seeks to bring all creation into the
same demise.
There is no greatness to be achieved within the limitations of yourself. Greatness is only found
in what you can do to add to the lives of others.
Paul tells us something of how this new ambition works…
1. Our new ambition to serve others for God is internally formed by our new life
and love in Christ.
Verse 1 - Arises from new spiritual motives within
• You can’t force genuine care and compassion …
• Ex of communism… the end is right but the means are wrong
So Paul appeals to what they should now already have discovered as the greatest of values…
Paul appeals with 4 reasons…the ‘if’ clauses are really rhetorical… not asking if these qualities exist,
but whether they are being realized. Could replace ‘if’ with ‘since…’
Our ambition to serve each other can and should flow from…
• Finding new life in Christ which you share in common
• Knowing the comfort of Christ’s love
• Sharing in the fellowship of the same Holy Spirit at work in you through Christ
• Already knowing something of tenderness and compassion
Because you ALREADY HAVE THESE SOURCES WITHIN YOU…have same love and
purpose… won’t agree with everything… but same ultimate goal unites us in heart and will.
Only one thing will stop you… the wrong ambition.
2. Our new ambition to serve others for God does not think lower of oneself…
but less of oneself.
3
The humility that serves our new ambition can’t be confused with just having low self
esteem… and the false humility that simply wants to pull back from attention.
False humility… that flows from quenched ambitions = fear of failure / shame that doubts we are as
deserving… = apathy.
Also such a critical culture… anyone who rises up is looked down on. We use people … even stars…
after they make us feel good… we need to discard them.
Thinking lower of yourself is easier than thinking less of yourself.
Golden rule: “Do unto others as you …”
Great Commandments… “love your neighbor as yourself.”
> Implies the ability to value oneself without being centered in oneself..
3. Our new ambition to serve others for God involves ‘active thoughtfulness’… an
inner consideration of others.
Takes an active perspective
‘’…consider others… look to the interest of others.’
Requires intention… we naturally fall back to our own needs.
Many years ago, The New Yorker ran a cartoon in which a smiling woman was jabbering
nonstop to a glum-faced companion. The smiling woman finally says, "Well, that’s enough about
me. Now let’s talk about you. What do you think about me?"
The story is told of a young girl who said, "Lord, I am not going to pray for myself today, I am
going to pray for others." But at the end of her prayer she added, "And give my mother a
handsome son-in-law!"
Word ambition comes from same as ambient… means to go around seeing
Ambient means to see all around
> Are you seeing all around… or blind and missing it.
LISTENING SEMINAR
Romans 12:10 (ESV)
”
Outdo one another in showing honor.”
Romans 12:10 (Msg)
”…
practice playing second fiddle.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11
”Encourage one another and build each other up”
Paul continues his call to this extraordinary ambition with what are likely the words of a hymn that
had already emerged to honor Christ…it tells of what he had done… and is a model to join… really a
story to join.
4
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death--
even death on a cross!
He came from the heights of heaven to the depths of our workkld… from the light of heaven to the
darkness of our world… from the place where he was glorified.. to the place he would be crucified.
4. Our new ambition to serve others for God involves sacrifice… a choice to give
from what we have for the benefit of others.
Thinking of others is hard… but the ultimate test of serving the interest of others comes when there is
really something to give up…
A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin, 5, Ryan, 3.
The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake. Their mother saw the opportunity for
a moral lesson. "If Jesus were sitting here, He would say, ’Let my brother have the first pancake. I can
wait.’ Kevin turned to his younger brother and said, "Ryan, you be Jesus!"
A reporter was interviewing a successful job counselor who had placed hundreds of workers in
their vocations quite happily. When asked the secret of his success, the man replied: “If you
want to find out what a worker is really like, don’t give him responsibilities—give
him privileges. Most people can handle responsibilities if you pay them enough, but it takes a
real leader to handle privileges. A leader will use his privileges to help others and build the
organization; a lesser man will use privileges to promote himself.” Jesus used His heavenly
privileges for the sake of others—for our sake.
Questions to consider…
• Do you graciously respect the different perspectives and preferences of others for the
ultimate unity of Christ?
• Do you see those in your life as your competition… or your testimony?
• Do you use people… or serve them?
• Would others experience me as more a servant or a master?
5. Our new ambition to serve others for God will glorify God and be glorified by
Him.
5
9
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
While Jesus alone is Lord… and shares in the center of all glory… But the pattern is ours to share in.
Jesus says, that as the returning one… my reward to all is with him.
God says all who humble themselves will be exalted.
Rewards await all.
Just as common ambition has it’s reward… so does the new ambition.
“Well done good and faithful servant”…. enter into all you Father has.”
Closing story:
Dale Galloway tells the story…
Little Chad was a shy, quiet young fella. One day he came home and told his mother he’d like to
make a valentine for everyone in his class. Her heart sank. She thought, "I wish he wouldn’t do
that!" because she had watched the children when they walked home from school. Her Chad was
always behind them. They laughed and hung on to each other and talked to each other, but Chad was
never included. Nevertheless, she decided she would go along with her son. So she purchased the
paper and glue and crayons. For three whole weeks, night after night, Chad painstakingly made 35
valentines.
Valentine’s Day dawned, and Chad was beside himself with excitement! He carefully stacked them
up, put them in a bag, and bolted out the door. His mom decided to bake him his favorite cookies and
serve them up warm with a cold glass of milk when he came home from school. She just knew he
would be disappointed...maybe that would ease the pain a little. It hurt her to think that he wouldn’t
get many valentines--maybe none at all.
That afternoon she had the cookies and milk on the table. When she heard the children outside, she
looked out the window. Sure enough, here they came, laughing and having the best time. And, as
always, there was Chad in the rear. He walked a little faster than usual. She fully expected him to
burst into tears as soon as he got inside. His arms were empty, she noticed, and when the door
opened she choked back her own tears. "Mommy has some warm cookies and milk for you."
But he hardly heard her words. He just marched right on by, his face aglow, and all he could
say was, "Not a one...not a one."
Her heart sank, but then he added, "I didn’t forget a one, not a single one!"
(Improving Your Serve, by Charles Swindoll, Word, 1981, Pages 92-93)
> It was Chad who knew something of extraordinary ambition… life not centered in self but others…
who joins Jesus in saying… “father, I didn’t forget one…” .. I reached all you had for me to reach.”
Prayer: Father… we are self centered so often… but your life is calling us to a new ambition. …
liberating us from ourselves…..”
