Should Christian women have career ambitions?
The word ambition means to have a strong desire to do or achieve something, typically requiring determination and work.
But here is an important distinction: there is 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, how could you ever get promoted or excel in your career 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 striving and a strong desire for success, but it is not self-focused because it wants to honor something or Someone else.
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). 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.
So, yes, is okay to have career ambitions and to dream big as a Christian woman.
It is okay to acquire wealth and grow your finances, both for yourself if you’re single and for the benefit of your family if you’re married and/or have kids.
It is also okay to not have career ambitions and instead focus your ambition only on your family and be a full time stay at home mom, but remember, that too will only be a season until your kids are grown.
But the caveat to all of that is your why: the motive that drives you, where your identity is rooted, and where your priorities are.
For example, if your home and family suffers at the expense of your work outside the home, then yes, you likely need to rethink your work ambitions and habits.
Similarly, if you chase your career and wealth at the expense of your spiritual or physical health, then you also may need to re-think your priorities.
But don’t fear success or downplay your dreams and neglect to grow the resources you’ve been given because there are many conservative and Christian influences that try to limit a woman’s realm of influence and work only to domestic matters.
Here are three questions to ask yourself in navigating your career ambitions:
Why do you want this?
For whom are you doing this and how are you doing it?
Whose name will be known at the end of it all? God’s or yours?
Be ambitious. But be ambitious for the right things and the right reasons.
May your life be the story of an ordinary woman and her extraordinary God.
May your work make more of Him and less of you.
And remember, it is okay if your ambitions shift and change from season to season.
P.S. This is an excerpt from my course for Christian women in the workplace. My email friends get 10% off the Elevate Blueprint always! Use code EMAILFAM
