Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.--Philippians 2:3-4

Then Samuel said to the people, “...For the Lord will not forsake His people, for His great name's sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you His people. Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way. Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you. But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.” ( 1 Samuel 12:22-25)

Samuel had been completely faithful in his service to the people. Samuel had walked before the people from childhood to old age never once cheating, oppressing, or taking anything from anyone (1 Samuel 12:4). During his time as judge, the Lord delivered the Israelites from their enemies.

In 1 Samuel 7:13 after Samuel had prayed and cried out to God for the Israelites as they went into battle and won it says, “So the Philistines were subdued, and they did not come anymore into the territory of Israel. And the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.”

When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. Yet his sons did not walk in the same way as Samuel. They turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes and perverted justice (1 Samuel 8:3). So, to the great displeasure of Samuel, the elders of Israel gathered and asked Samuel for a king to be appointed to judge them. (1 Samuel 8:6)

Samuel felt totally rejected (1 Samuel 8:7) but listened to God who told him to heed their request but to forewarn them how a king would be a burden to them, taking their daughters and sons into service, and the best of their fields and servants.

Samuel warned them and they refused to heed his voice. They told him, “No, but we will have a king over us that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” (1 Samuel 8:20)

Despite their demanding a king and Samuel's displeasure with them for it, he remained faithful to God and the people. In feelings of rejection by the people and feelings of disappointment around his sons, Samuel served God and the people without wavering. At the coronation of Saul, Samuel proclaimed that He would never cease to pray for them or call them to serve God with all their heart. (1 Samuel 12:22-25)

It was the love of God that was compelling Samuel in faithfulness despite outward circumstances. This was the same for Paul. He never stopped, sat down, quit or had a pity party. Under persecution, hunger, and severe tribulations, Paul remained steadfast in His pursuit of God and desire for the people to know Him.

Ray Stedman writes about Paul, “...he explains that the force which prompts him to act contrary to the usual ways of the world is not arising from a secret ambition for position. No, it originates from Christ within: "For Christ's love compels us," urges us, drives us (2 Corinthians 5:14). Because of what Paul says in this chapter, we know that some people actually claimed Paul was insane because of his intense devotion to the ministry of Jesus Christ and because of his unexpected behavior. Paul repeats some of the charges that have been leveled at him--but he declares that there is a 'method in his madness,' as the current saying goes. 'If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God,' he says in verse 13. 'If we are in our right mind, it is for you.'

Even though many people found it hard to explain Paul's actions, Paul could state clearly that his own objective was right. All of his behavior, whether crazy or sane, was focused on serving Christ and influencing people for Christ. Paul's goal could be anticipated when it was understood that the love of Christ urged him on. His actions were the actions of love, directed to the glory of God and the service of men, never for the advancement of self!

Now, that is always highly suspicious behavior! The person who has no axe to grind, no angle for his own profit, is behaving very strangely. The world expects people to "look out for Number One." The world also knows that everyone who is smart hides his self-interest until the last possible moment. He always appears to be concerned for the welfare of others, even while he is trying to manipulate the situation to his own advantage. That is why one frequently hears, "Okay, what's your angle?" or "All right, what's the catch?" Most Christians also reflect this view, despite their high-sounding "God-words" in church.”" [1]

As Samuel, Paul was different from the world.   They were willing to do whatever it took so that others may know God.   They considered it their calling.     Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:22b-23, "I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.  I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it."

Their sole purpose was that people may know the Lord.  Paul says in Col 2:2-3, "[My purpose is] that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ Himself in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

Having mixed motives would have got in the way of this.  If they were personally ambitious for status or only served the Lord as long as there was some gain for themselves, they would not have been the same witness or carry the same spiritual authority.

This was the case with Saul. While he appeared to be following the Lord, he was making choices out of a heart of ambition. The result was that under pressure, Saul went the wrong direction. When the troops were afraid and beginning to scatter, rather than wait for Samuel, Saul made the sacrifice himself (1 Samuel 13:12).

And when Saul cursed anyone who ate before evening and his son Jonathan had a little honey, Saul was ready to kill him when he discovered it. He was angry because God was not responding when after exhausting the troops and depleting them (to the point they were eating meat with the blood still in it), he was asking God if they should continue to pursue the Philistines until dawn. (1 Samuel 14:28-44)

From the outside, Saul was zealous in pursuing the enemy. Saul was one who put his whole heart and passion into going after what he saw as the will of God for himself and the people – to push back the Philistines.

However, what was not so obvious and came out in some of Saul's choices under pressure was his lack of heart for God. Saul wanted what he saw as the will of God but for the wrong reasons – his own hidden ambition. He wanted to be recognized as king.

The result was that Saul failed to show mercy with his troops. He failed to truly love his son. And when the will of the Lord went against his popularity and would result in his disapproval as king, he folded and gave in.

When Saul was told to go to war and attack Amalek, and claim everything for God by destroying it, not sparing a thing. Saul chose to hold out. He spared the best of all they had and did not wipe them out. Saul was king, he would not have needed the extra sheep and cows. However, he mentions in 1 Samuel 15:9, that the army spared them. Saul didn't want to risk the disapproval of his troops so he held back on direct orders from God.

Over ambition can be hard to spot until pressure is applied. It is an excessive desire to achieve or get ahead. It is very easy for those with a Type A personality to fall into.   

At the same time, some ambition is good. Type A personalities get things accomplished. One person writes, “Ambition, the desire to achieve a particular goal, while an abstract ideal, can be a tangible process. Those with ambition will first select a goal. Then, they will aim toward the goal. And finally they will decide to remain focused upon the goal until it is achieved.” [2]

Paul had spiritual ambition. Philippians 3:12-14 “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Brothers and sisters, 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 for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

And 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.  Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”

Paul had a strong tendency towards ambition. He always rose to the top of all he pursued. The difference between Paul and Saul however, was their ultimate goal. Paul's ultimate goal of his passion was to know and pursue Christ. Where Saul's ultimate goal was to remain king and protect his position of leadership. Whenever his position was threatened, it caused him to veer off track.

One sign of Saul's ambition being off course was his lack of mercy under pressure. When faced with his son Jonathan or David perceived threats of his position, he suddenly turned on them. He failed to be able to express God's mercy because he was wielding his own agenda.

A lack of reflecting the mercy of God in given circumstances can be a signal that there is something in the way. Over ambition and mercy do not flow together. One chooses either to follow God and to show mercy, often at the expense of ambition or they choose to follow their ambitions (no matter how good they are) at the expense of demonstrating mercy.

Like with Saul, ambition can look like a good choice from the surface. I think of a bible study I was part of at one time. The leader of the bible study made the decision to close it to an exclusive group of people. The thought was that if it was a group of people, personally invited,who were at a certain “spiritual level” and going in a certain direction together, that the group could go further by being exclusive.

However, by being exclusive, it also left out some people who could have greatly benefited. And what most does spiritual growth look like if it is not spending oneself and sacrificing for those who may not have as much to offer or be as far along?

At the time, I really thought that being involved in an exclusive bible study made sense. However, over time the underlying motives of spiritual ambition came to the surface. I realized that all of us were really in to a degree because of spiritual ambition.

We had sacrificed mercy (excluding others who could have grown from the experience) for the sake of our own spiritual ambition.

Another example of spiritual ambition would be at a previous church I attended for some time. People considered the one who ran our annual women's conference as a leader in the church. When one person would lead it, at times a few others would undercut the person rather than look at the opportunity to help.

Ironically, we actually grow more by putting ourselves aside and helping others to move ahead. It is always more blessed to give to others who have a need than receive. And we receive more in giving to others.

I think about that with prayer. When I was a fairly new Christian, I learned quickly that when I prayed and fasted for the service, I received way more from it than when I just came to receive. This was the same with serving. The more I gave with a heart desire to worship God in it, the more I received from it. It has been in a desire to give and serve out of worship and love that I have been most incredibly blessed.

Ambition gone awry would also have us, like Saul, feel threatened by someone who comes along side of us. It would tempt us to be jealous, compete or get in their way. Where if we are sharing the heart of God, we will see the opportunity of it to share God's heart and His purpose in furthering His kingdom through others.  We would put ourselves aside to help the other person come into all God has for them.

Saul could have saw David as a gift and an opportunity to step outside of himself and his role to mentor someone else. He could have chose to build him up rather than look to destroy him. But rather than choosing to come along side of David and mentor him, he chose to grip tightly to his position and feel threatened. He spent every day dwelling on seeking David out to eliminate him.

Barnabas was an opposite example. Barnabas was the first person to recognize Paul as transformed and make room for him as a new Christian. Rather than being threatened by him, Barnabas used the influence he had to make room for Paul.

Then Barnabas partnered with Paul in ministry while he was getting his start. Acts 15:12 says, “The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.”

As a result of mentoring by Barnabas, Paul became who he was meant to be. He fulfilled His calling. While Barnabas fades into the background at that point, it does not make his contribution any less significant. Paul fulfilled his calling to the gentiles while Barnabas fulfilled his calling of mentoring.

Lord,

Help us to see any misdirected ambition that may have creeped in to our lives. Eliminate misdirected ambition from our lives and give us hearts full of your mercy in it's place. Give us eyes to see like you and hearts to fully follow in mercy, even at the expense of what seem good spiritual ambitions.

I can see lines of ambition in my life. Forgive me and help me to eliminate it from my life. What I also see is feeling threatened at times is because of a desire to protect my leadership role like Saul. Help me to see from your perspective. Give me your heart of mercy, trust and surrender in those situations.

1. Stedman, Ray. Authentic Christianity. Located at: http://www.raystedman.org/authentic- christianity. Last Accessed: January 23, 2013.

2. Healy, Sherry.   Spiritual Ambition.   Located at:  http://susunweed.com/herbal_ezine/November04/intuitive.htm  Last Accessed: January 23, 2013.