A seed of ambition recently tried to sprout into a weed that would choke out my witness. I helped my colleague organize my office’s strategic planning conference. During the conference, the big boss kept acknowledging two other coworkers for their efforts. I wasn’t mentioned at all. It stung to not be recognized.

I returned to my room the first night to read the following verses:

Luke 17:9-10, “Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’” (NKJV)

Only His opinion mattered. With the right servant spirit restored, I labored the rest of the week to honor God and not myself. #honorgod -Joanna Eccles Click To Tweet

My heart felt conviction. I realized that I had worked to look good in front of my management. Instead, I needed to do my job to God’s glory, knowing that He saw my efforts and was proud of me. Only His opinion mattered. With the right servant spirit restored, I labored the rest of the week to honor God and not myself.

So how do we exchange our seed of ambition for one where our mission is expanding God’s kingdom?

1. Seek First the Kingdom of God

Our society says that if you don’t look out for number one (yourself), no one will. However, I’ve discovered that when I try to shove myself ahead, I wind up feeling miserable. I don’t honor God when I trample on others. A coworker recently told me that I was too nice, but I’d rather have that designation than be known as mean. God cares for those who seek Him first. He’s number one.

God cares for those who seek Him first. He’s number one. #seekthekingdom -Joanna Eccles Click To Tweet

Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (NKJV). When we grow God’s kingdom, we flourish, but when our rights outstrip God’s righteousness, He cuts us down.

Think of Nebuchadnezzar. In Daniel 4, he had a vision of himself as a thriving tree that shaded the animals around him. Yet, God pronounced that the tree would be cut down to the stump because Nebuchadnezzar built his empire while ignoring God’s kingdom. He literally lived like a wild beast for seven years. Nebuchadnezzar had to humble himself and seek God first and then God restored him to the throne.

2. Stay Humble

Pride can creep into our minds through many corridors if we aren’t careful. When we hear “job well done,” we can tend to think that our own abilities got us where we are. Yet, pride goes before a fall (Proverbs 16:18). Just when we think we have it all together, that is when we can trip over the roots of ambition and bring about our own ruin. Instead, we must remain humble before the Lord.

...we can trip over the roots of ambition and bring about our own ruin. -Joanna Eccles Click To Tweet

James 4:10 says, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (NKJV). Instead of tooting our own horns, we need to acknowledge that we have no ability to do anything apart from God’s grace. The Lord will exalt us at the perfect time in a way that His righteousness remains foremost.

3. Keep Your Eyes on the Prize

Letting the glory go to God doesn’t leave us empty, but fills us with joy because His renown must become our ultimate goal. Hebrews 12:2 says, “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (NKJV).

Christ didn’t demand His rights as the Son of God but lived in the confines of a human body. He then endured cruel torture at the hands of men so that He might overcome death and reconcile us back to God. Even as we experience slights from others, they do not compare to the agony suffered by our Lord. If He was overlooked, we can likewise expect to not receive all the accolades we think we deserve. We can praise God no matter what.

At the end of the conference, my colleague told me she felt like she was getting the recognition that I deserved. She had gone to the front office once to discuss the logistics plan, which is why the boss acknowledged her efforts. I quoted Luke 17:9-10 to her and explained how I discovered that my motivations had gone awry. I needed to do the right thing simply because it was right. She noted that not many people take that approach. Because I didn’t demand the limelight, God let me plant a seed in my coworker and build His kingdom instead of mine.

Do you ever struggle to stay humble? Does the seed of ambition threaten to grow into a tree that overshadows God? I pray that you remember to seek God first, stay humble, and keep your eye on the prize of the eternal glory of God. Then you will watch God’s kingdom expand around you and rejoice in seeing how much He cares for you.

 

Biography:

Joanna Eccles has led Bible studies for over fifteen years and completed the year-long C. S. Lewis Fellows Program. She is passionate about discipleship and helping people know God better through her blog Words from the Honeycomb. Joanna enjoys coffee, traveling, and reading, and currently lives in Florida.

 

 

Peace and grace,

Tammy

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