Ever since I discovered what business people do around 6th grade, I began to dream of reaching the top. The “top” changed over the years - in high school, I wanted to do fashion design or PR; in college it was business or journalism; then law school opened its own doors into courtrooms and politics; and then when I went to work for an accounting firm, making partner was the top. Regardless of the field or profession, I’ve always just had this drive to be the best I can be what I do. I love learning and always look to do the next hard thing that would move me up in my career and profession. 

I can’t tell you what changed exactly or how, but something did change. It was like settling calmly back into my seat, knowing someone else has control of where I’m going and I no longer have to worry about it. God stilled my frantic working and striving to prove my worth and told me to just look at Him. You know like when someone is panicking and they just need to be held firmly until the fight is out of them? That’s what it felt like. 

Then He told me I had to stop trying to make it on my own, that I could do more with Him than I could ever do on my own. 

The word ambition means to have a strong desire to do or achieve something, typically requiring determination and work. 

Here is where I want to make a very important point: there is a selfish ambition and there is Godly ambition. 

Around the time I was up for my first promotion at work, I began to look around at my peers and panic that I wasn’t as good as them, so what if they got promoted over me? My first human instinct was to work harder and to out-do my peers. But then God lead me to James 3:14-16:

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.

“Self ambition” in the original Greek means “the seeking of followers and adherents by means of gifts, the seeking of followers, hence) ambition, rivalry, self-seeking; a feud, faction.” The ancient Greek use means to act for one’s own gain, regardless of the discord or strife it causes. It places self-interest ahead of what the Lord declares right, or what is good for others. So, it quite literally means making yourself look best, regardless of the cost to others or who you have to step on to get ahead. 

I’ve worked and gone to school in some competitive environments, so I’ve experienced and even at times participated in that competitive climb to be at the top at the expense of others. But the fruit of that kind of selfish ambition will always be confusion, disorder and evil. 

• You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. -James 4:2

• But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. -1 Timothy 6:9

• For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. -1 John 2:16

• But she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. -1 Timothy 5:6

• But for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. - Romans 2:8

This kind of selfish ambition is completely the opposite of what God expects of His children:

• But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. -Luke 22:26

• But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. -James 3:47

• Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. -Philippians 2:3-4

• Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. -Romans 12:16

• Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. -1 Peter 3:8

So, you might wonder how you could ever get promoted or excel in your career then if you constantly counted someone else’s interests above your own. Here’s the key to it all:

Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. -Matthew 23:12

There’s another word for ambition in the New Testament. Apostle Paul uses it in his letter to the Roman church when he wrote that it was his “ambition to preach the Gospel.” This type of ambition has an entirely different meaning: to love or seek after honor, to show affection for what is personally valued (honored); aspiring for what is honorable; refers to pursuing/devoting oneself to what has great personal value. 

It’s still a striving and a strong desire for success, but it is not self-focused because it wants to honor something or Someone else. 

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. -Matthew 5:16

That same word is used in 1 Thessalonians 4:11:

...that you aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you. 

So, you see, we are called to have aspirations and to work, as for the Lord, and not for people (Col. 3:23), but we are called to work not for our personal gain, but to make Him known. Aspire to live a quiet life that provides for yourself and for your family and if God wants you to rise to the top, He will make a way for that too. 

When God raised up Daniel and his friends at such a young age to become trusted advisors of a foreign king, He didn’t do it for them - He did it so an entire kingdom would know about the one living God. 

When He raised up Joseph to become prime minister of Egypt, He did it so that His people would have food in time of hunger in the land. 

“The Lord was with Joseph and he was a successful man…And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight and served him.” -Genesis 39:2-4

When God raised up Esther to be queen, He did it to save an entire generation of His people from genocide. 

When He put Moses in the palace as a baby, He did it so one day He could lead His people out of Egypt into the Promised Land. 

And when Paul rose to the highest levels of religious education and political influence of his time, it all happened so that one day he could become the one who preached the Gospel to the Gentiles.

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might breach Him among the Gentiles. -Galatians 1:15-16

God is training up people in remarkable ways for future usefulness. He gives us opportunities for education, and sometimes, even allows us to wander off, but His eye is always upon us until the time comes for us to rise up and to be of service to Him. He knows where to take your work and how high up your career will go.

He is bringing you up for a purpose, and that purpose will always be for His glory and for the sake of His people. 

So, is it okay to have an ambition to be successful in your career? 

Well, the answer depends on the why and the how.

Why do you want it?

For whom are you doing it and how are you doing it?

Whose name will be known at the end of it all? God’s or yours?

The truth is, my story - including my career - is God’s story. He took a poor, immigrant girl who had no place in a private university and He made a way for me to go said university, fully paid for. When I didn’t get economics, I cried and prayed and somehow I ended up majoring in it - that was a miracle in itself. I had no family connections, yet I always had multiple part time jobs and internships. I am not the smartest, but I always got good grades. Yes, I worked really hard, but I prayed just as hard, because all along I felt so inadequate to do any of it, but there was a fire in me to do it. In many ways, I was fearless, even when I was scared, because I felt His hand upon me. 

There were times I forgot that though and made it about myself and making a name for myself. Because that is what the world tells me the business world is like. But then my God reminds me He doesn’t need perfect, smart, successful people. He just wants a humble and obedient heart to make more of Him. 

For the Lord knows the way of the righteous (Ps. 1:6). Do you see a woman skillful in her work? She will stand before kings; she will not stand before obscure men (Pr. 22:29). Because a woman who belongs to God - a woman whose entire life, including her work - is lead by God will not be put to shame.

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. -Matthew 6:33

With time, I’ve come to realize that He is leading me in the path He has for me. I don’t know if that path will lead me to the top of anything, and that is okay as long as He accomplishes all that He wants through me. If I need to get promoted, God will make a way. He will help me find favor with the right people in the right time...if that will bring Him glory. 

In the meantime, I do my part which looks a lot like hard work and gaze firmly focused on Him. I build up my co-workers and cheer on their achievements, even if it means she gets a promotion or job I wanted. It means that I don’t always have to be the best or always in the spotlight. I still have career goals and ambitions, but I try to hold them loosely with open hands, putting His will above my own ambitions.

Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! -Psalm 119:36

Above all, I make it my ambition to make His name known with my whole life. Because I don’t want to live a life where people attribute my accomplishments and success to me. I want a life that will make people believe there truly must be Someone greater at work because a girl like that shouldn’t have ever been able to achieve or become something like this. 

So, yes. Be ambitious. But be ambitious for the right things and the right reasons. May your life be the story of an ordinary girl and her extraordinary God. May your work make more of Him and less of you.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Yelena is the founder and editor in chief Tirzah. Yelena works as an attorney in tax and in her spare time, she is working on her first book for unmarried twenty-something women in extended waiting seasons and running Tirzah. She has a passion for pointing young women to Christ, and enjoys reading, writing, traveling, and spending time with her family.