Spiritual Ambition - by Beth Bruns

Is the idea of ‘spiritual ambition’ an oxymoron?  Are spirituality and professional ambition mutually exclusive?  No!  I believe they are mutually beneficial concepts that can be used for God’s glory and to minister to a lost and hurting world.  Below are three ideas to help you build convictions and a lifestyle of spiritual ambition.

 1)    The Bible calls us to work at whatever we do with all our hearts. 

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24 

It’s hard to imagine living out these two verses in Colossians without ambition.  The difference between Col 3:23-24 and selfish ambition is that in this context, ambition is in the service of a spiritual goal versus a selfish or self-seeking goal.  The end goal makes all the difference.  By focusing on Jesus, you can establish dreams and goals to strive forward in your vocation or career.  When you believe God has a plan for your life, including your job and you have the conviction of Col 3, you will have spiritual ambition. It will show up in professional commitment, devotion, and whole-heartedness. Employers are looking for these qualities.  Considering giving your whole heart with humility and as a servant leader as Jesus would.  In doing this, don’t you believe your boss and co-workers will notice and admire your discipleship qualities?  If you work with zeal in your profession, being a reliable teammate, helping to build a great team, leading by example, working diligently, crediting other people with success, do you not think your co-workers would see the attractiveness of being a Christian?

2)    There are people only you can reach in your profession.  As you figure out your niche in the workplace, think about the spiritual qualities you want people to see in you.  How can these things be attractive to your co-workers?  Maybe you are the most service-oriented person in your workgroup.  As you serve, people may notice, then invite them to a spiritual event. Perhaps you are the one that delivers results and makes things happen.  As people see, speak of ‘working with all your heart’ and reach out to them with your spiritual convictions.  Maybe you are the compassionate one in your workgroup and are viewed as supporting the team through challenges and hard times. When a need arises, meet the demand, and point them to how Jesus meets needs.  Make your presence on the job the best witness for Jesus that many of these people will ever see.  Make the most of it by helping them connect-the-dots between who you are, your ambition, and your spirituality.

 3)    You can design your professional life to make Christianity attractive.  Christian hypocrisy like; gossip, slander, malice, cheating, lying, vulgarity, inappropriate joking, etc. fills the workplace.  By your example, you can change this perception.  To do this, make Christianity your lifestyle, not what you do only on Sunday.  Think in terms of bringing apology, humility, honesty, integrity, respect, admiration, and service to the job.  By having these character qualities on the job, you will make Christianity attractive to your co-workers.