Ambition Must Be Balanced With Humility
by Dan Jones, M.D.
Philippians 2:3-9
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
In this passage, Paul balances the concept of ambition with the concept of humility. Paul had an intimate understanding of both. Paul recognized that ambition must be balanced with an appropriate dose of humility. And Paul was painfully aware, that if unable to find sufficient humility on our own, God will bring it to us.
One of Paul’s great life ambitions was to share the gospel in Rome. Rome was the epicenter of society in Paul’s time. It was the social, governmental, and cultural capital of the world. It was the New York City of its time. Paul wanted to preach on “the big stage”. He spoke and wrote frequently of his ambition to go to Rome. He must have envisioned what it would be like many times. He would enjoy sharing the gospel in a grand place to cultured people of his own social standing. After all, he was a Roman citizen.
But when God finally allowed Paul the opportunity to travel to Rome, it was not in glory and splendor. Instead, Paul went to Rome as a prisoner in chains. What a humbling experience this must have been for the ambitious and proud Paul. But God used this experience to make Paul a better Christian, a better Apostle. His richest written works were produced from his time in prison in Rome.
In my life, working in an overseas mission hospital was a long-standing ambition. It may be hard to understand how this could be a selfish ambition. But God delayed opening the doors for our family to go to Korea until he had humbled us to pray not only “we are willing to do mission work”, but to pray “thy will be done.” There is a difference and it has everything to do with humility.
Lord, shape my ambition with your humility.
Dan Jones, M.D., MACP, FAHA, a board-certified Internist, a former medical missionary to Korea, professor of medicine at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine, Dean of the School of Medicine, and Chancellor of the University of Mississippi until 2015. Dr. Dan Jones is a member of CMDA.
Dr. Jones welcomes any comments or questions about what he has written and can be reached at - djones@umc.edu
Rounds with the Master, Spiritual Pearls from the Great Physician Devotionals are released every Monday and Thursday.
Photo by Leanne Fisher on Unsplash
