In its negative sense, ambition is the pursuit of personal status and fortune, which is contrary to the purposes of God as expressed in Scripture.
Selfish ambition: a desire for personal aggrandisement
Mark 10:36–37 See also Genesis 11:4 the men of Babel; 2 Samuel 15:1–4 Absalom; 1 Kings 1:5 Adonijah; Isaiah 14:13–14 the king of Babylon; Ezekiel 28:2 the ruler of Tyre; Daniel 11:36–38; Micah 7:3; Habakkuk 2:4–5; Matthew 20:21; Luke 22:24; Philippians 1:17; 2 Thessalonians 2:4–7 the antichrist
“What do you want Me to do for you?” He inquired. They answered, “Grant that one of us may sit at Your right hand and the other at Your left in Your glory.”
Selfish ambition arises from fallen human nature
Galatians 5:19–21 See also Proverbs 6:18; Ephesians 2:3; 1 John 2:16
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
The results of selfish ambition
Humiliation by God
For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
The believer becomes spiritually unproductive
See also Mark 4:18–19; James 3:14–16
Warnings against selfish ambition
Philippians 2:3 See also Jeremiah 45:5 God's word to Baruch
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.