Ridding Ourself of Selfish Ambition.

3 Do nothing out of SELFISH ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
 in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:3-11, NIV)

While the journey is filled with promise of all that is to come, our challenge begins first with what we are willing to give up. We are instructed to do nothing out of selfish ambition (greed or vain conceit or pride). When we live life fueled by these motives, we choose the life of a fool. Ambition itself is not wrong, ambition is not the problem it is selfish ambition.

The challenge is the more self-oriented we are, the more controlling we are. What drives us to want to be so in control of things, even people and behaviors? Maybe fear or trust. For me the freedom to live in peace and allow God to be God and to be in charge gives me great rest from that nonstop fight that takes place. Fact, people are people and will do what they want—when, where and how. It is not my job to manage them or their behavior. This does not prevent me from investing in people. I do invest and it is God who brings the harvest. Imagine no more selfish ambition--just free to live a simplified life serving Him and really allowing Him to be God!
So the challenge is to ask our self, “Have we eliminated God from parts of our life? Do we find our self-trying to be God in our lives and in the lives of others?” After you answer these questions you will find out what you need to release back to Him. Releasing ourselves back to Him and emptying ourselves will lead us to a path of freedom and greatness for Him! Freedom--that is what I want!

Praying for your best.

Blessings,