Tuesday: Ambition
Studying the last week of Jesus’ ministry on earth prior to His crucifixion is always a source of encouragement and inspiration. It also offers a snapshot of how restlessness and ambition drive people to do and say ill-advised things.
Read Luke 22:14-30 and think about Jesus’ emotions as He hears His disciples argue during this solemn meal over who among them should be considered the greatest (Luke 22:24). Why did the disciples get sidetracked from this momentous occasion and focus on human greatness?
Image © Krieg Barrie from GoodSalt.com
We seldom discuss with others who is the greatest in our church, our family, or our workplace. We may think about it a lot, but who, really, openly talks about it?
This was not the first time that this question was raised in the community of Jesus’ followers. Matthew 18:1 reports the disciples’ bringing the question to Jesus and framing it in a more abstract way: “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” (NKJV). Jesus’ answer involves an object lesson. After calling a child, he sets the child in the center of the group. Eyes are opened wide; eyebrows are raised. Jesus’ action requires an explanation, and in Matthew 18:3 the Master offers that, too: “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (NKJV).
Conversion is foundational for finding true rest in Jesus. We recognize that we need outside help. We suddenly realize that we cannot depend on ourselves but need to rely on Jesus. We experience a transformation of our values and ambitions. Jesus tells His disciples: Trust Me and rely on Me like this child. True greatness is giving up your rights and embracing kingdom values.
Unfortunately, it seems that the disciples had not yet learned this lesson by the time Jesus ate the last supper with them. Their bickering and infighting ruined a moment of perfect communion that was never to be repeated.
All this, even after years of being with Jesus, ministering with Jesus, and hearing and learning at His feet? What a sad example of just how corrupt the human heart remains! On the more positive side, however, think about the ever-present reality of the Lord’s grace, that despite this pathetic discussion among His followers, Jesus didn’t give up on them.
| Why should keeping our focus on Jesus on the cross be a powerful remedy against the desire for self-exaltation, which, as fallen human beings, all of us are prey to? |
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Those of us who went to high school at a time when Shakespearian plays were studied will remember dramas like Julius Ceasar, Hamlet, and Macbeth. Most of these plays were based on the interplay of raw ambition, and If I learned nothing else from them it was that ambition, allowed to dominate, leads to destruction.
Mark Anthony, in his speech after the murder of Julius Ceasar says:
And that just about sums up the consequence of unrestrained ambition. These Shakespearean dramas are described as tragedies.
Jesus, talking about ambition said:
One thing that I learned rather too late in life is that you cannot become an effective teacher until you understand what it is like to be a student. It is not knowledge that makes you a good teacher; rather it is understanding the experience of learning from a student's perspective. I will leave the reader to draw the spiritual implications.
Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes. Psm 119:12
Ambition
I dont understand the use of the word- Ambition. Is having ambition a bad thing?
Ambition means a strong urge to obtain something, or to do something in life. I knew of a man who started as a janitor at work now he has his PhD. There is nothing wrong in having ambition but like anything else, what is our motive? My spouse told me he met with this young Pastor who is studying to have his PhD. All he is concern with is the ability for people to call him 'doctor'!!! What is our motive in life for our achievements? I personally know when I pray for things I get them. Many Christians pray for a large vehicle to carry the members to church. When they Lord gave us the large vehicle, we pass the members strait like we ain't saw them.
The rich and the poor will always live among us, the haves and the haves not. As a people we are called to bear one another burden in love. Society says the higher you become in education, or the color of your skin, or the more material things you have, or depending on where you came from, people have false ambition of supremacy. Ambition about self is rapped in the devil claws. Can be very subtle.
Maurice,
When I was homeschooling my son, I learned that "understanding the experience of learning from a student's perspective" is of critical importance. I should have known better because of an experience I had while in high school. At the conclusion of what the instructor must have thought was an elegant proof involving trigonometry and calculus, I looked around at the other blank looks on the faces of students in the class, raised my hand and asked him how he pulled that rabbit out of the hat. The instructor had no clue how confused he made everyone of us.
Richard
How come Jesus was so direct and the disciples so nahive? How come Jesus was telling them about His own death, and at the same time they were worried about being the greatest? So close to the real (and universal) solution for the eternal death they read the message wrong! Even though God Himself was physically present, they were yet thinking on material glory! Are we the same? So close and so distant? As a church, what are we doing? Boosting about our material achievements or pleading for the Holy Spirit to come down on us thus we can truly understand our responsability for this time?
What is knowledge without the ability to effectively and efficiently relay or share that knowledge? I personally believe that's part of the reason Jesus so effectively used parables. For those who wanted to understand and believe, parables left very little room to wonder "what" he meant. Children typically don't care about status. All they see is someone to relate to. Then these children start to grow up, become more "educated" and lose that childlike innocence that so clearly reflects the image of God. When I daily come to the foot of the cross to take God for Jesus sacrifice for me. It forces me to recognize my insignificance compared to his Godliness. Psalms 8:4 smacks me dead in the face. What am I, no what is it about YOU God that would cause you to die for me. I makes me start my day in a humble frame of mind realizing how undeserving I really am of everything.
Pride, selfishness, and love of the world, will mislead any who profess to follow the Lord down the false path which the meek and lowly of heart will not enter.
We may sing songs and preach sermons that “exalt” Jesus on the cross, while harboring pride and selfishness. Jesus made clear the path of duty for all who desire to follow Him(Matt 5:3-12; 11:28-30; 16:24). Exalting Jesus and Him crucified may only be demonstrated by all who, denying self, “take up [their] cross and follow [Him]”. In other words, faith is an action, and not merely a talking point. Our "focus" on the cross should include Jesus' life and teachings, whereby we may learn to follow Him in our life and teachings. Without this, the cross will most likely be misunderstood.
The disciples asked "Who is/will be the greatest"
Paul tells : Php 2:3 EMTV doing nothing according to selfish ambition or conceit, but with humility, regarding one another as being better than yourselves.
I think that the type of character that we are being warned against is Narcissism, see below the definition:
Narcissism is characterized by a grandiose sense of self-importance, a lack of empathy for others, a need for excessive admiration and attention (even negative attention is attention), inability to accept criticism of any type, and a belief that one is unique and therefore deserving of special treatment in recognition of their perceived higher status—along with low self-esteem that may be camouflaged. They tend to devalue, derogate, insult, and blame others, often responding to threatening feedback with anger and hostility. In severe cases, the individual views everyone as inferior and may be intolerant of being asked any questions or of any disagreements.
I found the way the disciples asked the question interesting - Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven? (not in the world)
Do we us as Christians sometimes exhibit the characteristics of a Narcissist when sharing the gospel with family or friends? Do we feel we are better then them and that we have to correct them?
What was Jesus' attitude - He humbled Himself.
Jesus said: Blessed are the meek/humble for they shall inherit the earth.
2Tim 2:24-25
In response to the disciple’s strife which of them should be accounted greater in the Kingdom of heaven, Jesus comments:
Luke 22:14-30KJV –
v.25: ”And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.”
v.26: “But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.”
v.27: "For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.".
v.28: “Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.”
v.29-30: “And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
"Why did the disciples get sidetracked from this momentous occasion and focus on human greatness?"
In the recorded conversation Christ Jesus had with His disciples He explains that they would be citizens of this kingdom here and now. For some of them it was difficult to understand this message. But at Pentecost it all became clear - they would live in the spiritual kingdom of God here on earth and invite others to join them.
Could it be that at the time of the Passover Supper, for some of them, their sense of participating in the ‘mission’ was satisfied by just being in the presence of Jesus? If some of them still hoped Jesus to be the Jewish Messiah from the house of David to become the ‘King’ of the Jews, this would explain their ‘wrestling for positions’ in this envisioned earthly kingdom.
Those that argued among themselves could not see that being humble and meek like a very young child was that which it took to establish themselves in that spiritual kingdom of God.
John17:12KJV - Jesus fulfilled His mission! The lesson writer states: “True greatness is giving up your rights and embracing kingdom values.” Yes, and we ought to live these kingdom values in the here and now. What are these kingdom values - loving God with all your heart, and loving your fellow man as God has loved you.