Selfish ambition

[Introverted1293]

This is just a simple question. There is nothing intelligent about this question. But I don't fully understand what selfish ambition means.

What exactly does selfish ambition mean? Does it mean anyone who desires to be successful and go to college?

 

[Chesterton]

Well the dictionary definition of ambition is "a strong desire to do or achieve something". I think one could have ambition to do something for a higher good than enriching or glorifying one's self. But if the desire is not for the sought thing itself, but just to enrich or glorify one's self, that could be described as selfish ambition.

 

[HTacianas]

This is just a simple question. There is nothing intelligent about this question. But I don't fully understand what selfish ambition means.

What exactly does selfish ambition mean? Does it mean anyone who desires to be successful and go to college.

No, that's not what it means.

Let's say that you have some life's dream of being some thing one day. You are ambitious and willing to work hard to achieve that. Along the way you're even willing to help others achieve their life's dream. There's nothing at all wrong with that.

But then someone else has the same life's dream, but rather than work hard to achieve it, they cheat in college, gossip about others to harm them, and generally screw over anyone they think is getting in their way.

One is an example of ambition, the other is selfish ambition. I read once a rabbinical commentary on coveting and lust. Without some desire to own something we would never have a house. If we scheme to take our neighbor's house we are coveting. Without some desire for sexual relations we would never produce children. If we have evil desires for another man's wife we are lusting.

 

[Rescued One]

This is just a simple question. There is nothing intelligent about this question. But I don't fully understand what selfish ambition means.

What exactly does selfish ambition mean? Does it mean anyone who desires to be successful and go to college.

Enrolling in college and earning a degree in order to serve others isn't selfish. There are so many ways to help others! Engineers can build safer bridges, better sanitation systems, great inventions. Doctors can save lives. Teachers can have a great impact on children's lives. The list could go on and on. If the goal of getting a degree is to accumulate wealth in order to enjoy a luxurious life, that smacks of selfish ambititon.

 

[salt-n-light]

This is just a simple question. There is nothing intelligent about this question. But I don't fully understand what selfish ambition means.

What exactly does selfish ambition mean? Does it mean anyone who desires to be successful and go to college.

Not sure how you got that term, but ambition is a strong desire to do something. That of itself is not selfish to have. You should be ambitious in all that you do. But the intention of doing it can be selfish. If you putting all your energy into something that is only meant to elevate you, even at the expense of others, then that's selfish. But if your energy was not necessarily to be elevated, but it ended up being the by-product of being ambitious, then that's not selfish. So for example,going to college isn't selfish.

 

[Romans 8]

If you want to examine selfish ambition, look at Hollywood actors and many of the top level music artists, corporate lawyers, Wall Street stock brokers, Pimps, high level politicians, bankers, etc etc.

Before people start throwing stones these are in general. People that seek money and power, and fame usually gravitate towards these kinds of positions.

If you wanted to become a brain surgeon soley based on the fact that they make a lot of money, that's another example.

 

[Sabertooth]

But I don't fully understand what selfish ambition means.

It is a drive to meet or exceed your own needs.

A certain amount of it is necessary to survive in this life. It is only a problem if you choose a course of action that violates your conscience before God, whether it is your understanding of His written Word or something that the Holy Spirit has made clear to you.

Jesus said,
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6:31-34 NKJV

 

[Paidiske]

I think Philippians 2:3-4 might be helpful on this?

Edit: the version quoted in the link doesn't use the words, but it's often translated: "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others."

 

[Introverted1293]

Well the dictionary definition of ambition is "a strong desire to do or achieve something". I think one could have ambition to do something for a higher good than enriching or glorifying one's self. But if the desire is not for the sought thing itself, but just to enrich or glorify one's self, that could be described as selfish ambition.

Thank you very much.

 

[Introverted1293]

Not sure how you got that term, but ambition is a strong desire to do something. That of itself is not selfish to have. You should be ambitious in all that you do. But the intention of doing it can be selfish. If you putting all your energy into something that is only meant to elevate you, even at the expense of others, then that's selfish. But if your energy was not necessarily to be elevated, but it ended up being the by-product of being ambitious, then that's not selfish. So for example,going to college isn't selfish.

I got it from the verse that said do nothing out of selfish ambition. I have ambition but I wasn't sure if it was selfish or not.

Thank you very much for your reply.

 

[Introverted1293]

No, that's not what it means.

Let's say that you have some life's dream of being some thing one day. You are ambitious and willing to work hard to achieve that. Along the way you're even willing to help others achieve their life's dream. There's nothing at all wrong with that.

But then someone else has the same life's dream, but rather than work hard to achieve it, they cheat in college, gossip about others to harm them, and generally screw over anyone they think is getting in their way.

One is an example of ambition, the other is selfish ambition. I read once a rabbinical commentary on coveting and lust. Without some desire to own something we would never have a house. If we scheme to take our neighbor's house we are coveting. Without some desire for sexual relations we would never produce children. If we have evil desires for another man's wife we are lusting.

Thank you for using those examples. They really help me understand.

 

[Introverted1293]

If you want to examine selfish ambition, look at Hollywood actors and many of the top level music artists, corporate lawyers, Wall Street stock brokers, Pimps, high level politicians, bankers, etc etc.

Before people start throwing stones these are in general. People that seek money and power, and fame usually gravitate towards these kinds of positions.

If you wanted to become a brain surgeon soley based on the fact that they make a lot of money, that's another example.

Yeah, I agree that people shouldn't throw stones. I was actually looking at my own life.

And the examples you gave me are really helpful, so thank you.

 

[Introverted1293]

Enrolling in college and earning a degree in order to serve others isn't selfish. There are so many ways to help others! Engineers can build safer bridges, better sanitation systems, great inventions. Doctors can save lives. Teachers can have a great impact on children's lives. The list could go on and on. If the goal of getting a degree is to accumulate wealth in order to enjoy a luxurious life, that smacks of selfish ambititon.

Thank you very much.

 

[Introverted1293]

It is a drive to meet or exceed your own needs.

A certain amount of it is necessary to survive in this life. It is only a problem if you choose a course of action that violates your conscience before God, whether it is your understanding of His written Word or something that the Holy Spirit has made clear to you.

Jesus said,
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6:31-34 NKJV

Thank you very much. And thank you for the Bible verse. I actually needed the verse. I worry a lot.

 

[Introverted1293]

I think Philippians 2:3-4 might be helpful on this?

Edit: the version quoted in the link doesn't use the words, but it's often translated: "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others."

That's actually a very good verse. Regarding treating other people as better then ourselves. I wonder how people live their lives that way.

I guess I just need to pray and ask God for wisdom and for the ability to treat others better than myself.

 

[Paidiske]

I'm not sure I'd get hung up on "better," but the idea of focussing on the needs of others seems fairly practical?

 

[Introverted1293]

I'm not sure I'd get hung up on "better," but the idea of focussing on the needs of others seems fairly practical?

Yeah, I understand that. It actually is very practical. I guess I just got hung up on the word "better."

 

[Pavel Mosko]

This is just a simple question. There is nothing intelligent about this question. But I don't fully understand what selfish ambition means.

What exactly does selfish ambition mean? Does it mean anyone who desires to be successful and go to college?

This verse is one very relevant to modern times especially with Prosperity Preachers! It means preaching the gospel as a means to get ahead, preaching the gospel because you seek fame etc.


Examples "God wants you to give and give the biggest offering you can to my ministry!"

"You must submit to me and do what I say because the Bible says X and Y"

Spiritual bragging and virtue signaling etc.

A funny tidbit with charismatics some of them have claimed to have prophetic words that a certain woman or man they have a crush on must marry them because "God says so".

 

[Introverted1293]

This verse is one very relevant to modern times especially with Prosperity Preachers! It means preaching the gospel as a means to get ahead, preaching the gospel because you seek fame etc.


Examples "God wants you to give and give the biggest offering you can to my ministry!"

"You must submit to me and do what I say because the Bible says X and Y"

Spiritual bragging and virtue signaling etc.

A funny tidbit with charismatics some of them have claimed to have prophetic words that a certain woman or man they have a crush on must marry them because "God says so".

I didn't realize that some people did that. But thank you very much for your reply. It was very helpful.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

We are living in much different times than when those scriptures were written. America is blessed, by God, with wealth beyond measure, to be enjoyed by any who will work. So drawing a line beyond which we are committing "selfish ambition" might not be appropriate today.