On Ambition in Ministry

Ambition in life is generally a good thing. Ambition in ministry is indispensable.

We have all heard the tired trope about pastors working only one day a week. It is sad when people repeat such drivel. It is tragic that some ministers have actually provided fodder for this criticism.

Yes, the ministry can, sadly, become a place for the indolent to hide. I’ve never understood why anyone with this mentality would seek the ministry to begin with, but some undoubtedly have.

But, on the other hand, the ministry can also be a place for the motivated to excel—and it has drawn many through the centuries for that very reason. And I believe that the Apostle Paul, above all others, exhibited this kind of spirit.

“I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus,” he exclaimed in Philippians 3:14.

“I have made it my aim to preach the gospel,” he thundered in Romans 15:20.

Perhaps most succinctly, he stated: “I magnify my ministry” (Rom. 11:13).

He also reminds us never to be “lagging in diligence” (Rom. 12:11a). Rather, we must become “fervent in spirit, serving the Lord” (Rom. 12:11b).

Of course, the motivated minister must find the right place to excel. There are some congregations, for instance, that simply desire to continue the status quo. They have no desire at all to observe evidence of ambition or progress toward excellence. These are, honestly, situations that do not lend themselves to a quest for achievement. Thus, the first area in which the minister may need to exercise ambition might be in locating a fitting environment in which to serve.

But once the minister has found his niche, the place where he can really channel his energy and ambition toward excellent accomplishment—whether that be in a particular local church or in another type of ministry—he will still need to navigate his course within the providence of God when it comes to the issue of ambition.

What do I mean, and how does this work itself out in practice?

First, with regard to the larger issues of one’s direction in life, sometimes we find that our ambitions might outpace the course that God has set before us—and we must remain open to His will. For instance, there was a time when my intention was to enter a doctor of philosophy program in Old Testament. My ambition was to unearth new findings in the Hebrew text in the furtherance of dispensational theology. The Lord, in His providence, has not allowed the fulfillment of that desire, at least not to date.

In its place, however, God has given me so many amazing privileges in ministry that I could never have expected and, frankly, never even thought to ask for. In fact, I really could not have even known how to ask for some of them. I still have larger ambitions to experience and achieve more, yet I realize more clearly now that my life is limited by the bounds of God’s providence, as well as by available time, energy and resources. Looking back, I also understand that my greatest need is to radiate gratitude.

Still, that does not mean that my struggles are past. There is a second arena when it comes to this matter of ambition, in which we face so many day-to-day temptations. In this regard, I have learned that the greatest thing that I must do with many of my ambitions is to restrain them. Failing to do so, I will succumb to the disquieting forces of envy—yearning for more and greater prospects to serve, instead of focusing on the plethora of opportunities right before me.

As is the case with any type of anxiety, the cure for this kind of envy is primarily found once again in the exercise of “thanksgiving” (Phil. 4:6). Perhaps just recognizing the need for such is a step in the direction of maturity. Once again, in the smaller issues, as in the larger realm of life, my pressing need is to display gratitude. The legitimate successes of others in ministry must always be a cause for my rejoicing, and never for my jealousy (see 2 Cor. 10:12).

One final thought on this subject: We are facing a crisis today in the lack of young men who aspire to devote their lives to the ministry—especially pastoral ministry. Perhaps one reason is that they have lacked exposure to ministers who model an appropriate level of godly ambition. If all they have witnessed are examples of lethargy, of course they would fail to sense any particular call to spend their lives on the path of ministry.

Help us, O Lord, to demonstrate the right mix of ambition and humility—always tempered by gratitude. May we serve You in the most effective ways possible, striving to provide an example that will impassion others for the ministry, always for Your glory. Amen.