In its positive sense, ambition is a personal desire for spiritual progress or achievement.
A longing for God and for what he can do in the believer
Matthew 5:6; Philippians 3:13–14 See also Philippians 3:10; Psalm 40:8; Luke 13:24; Colossians 1:29; 1 Thessalonians 4:11; 2 Timothy 2:15; Hebrews 12:1; 1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:14
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.
The desire for spiritual gifts
1 Corinthians 14:12 See also 1 Kings 3:10–14 parallel 2 Chronicles 1:11–12; 1 Corinthians 12:31, 1 Corinthians 14:1, 1 Corinthians 14:39
It is the same with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, strive to excel in gifts that build up the church.
The desire for a leadership role in the church
This is a trustworthy saying: If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble task.
The longing for communion with God
Psalm 27:4 See also Psalm 73:25, Psalm 84:2
One thing I have asked of the LORD; this is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and seek Him in His temple.
The compelling desire to preach the gospel
Romans 15:20 See also 1 Corinthians 9:16; Philippians 1:15–18 Jesus Christ can be proclaimed, despite selfish personal ambition.
In this way I have aspired to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.
Focus on future rewards
1 Corinthians 9:24–27 See also 2 Timothy 4:8; Hebrews 10:35–36, Hebrews 11:26
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize. Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable. Therefore I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air. No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
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.