The master Christian, Christ Jesus, had only one ambition: to do the will of his Father, to please and glorify Him. He said, "To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth." John 18:37; This is the only ambition that can bring lasting satisfaction and happiness.
To express God in all that we think, say, or do is the only logical reason for existence. If we try to have any other ambition, we will only be putting off the demonstration we all must eventually make of true happiness, health, success, and immortality. Impelled by any other motivation than that of serving God, we will find ourselves sidetracked from the accomplishment of our true life purpose and its manifold blessings.
Mrs. Eddy writes in Retrospection and Introspection under the title "Admonition": "Dishonesty, envy, and mad ambition are 'lusts of the flesh,' which uproot the germs of growth in Science and leave the inscrutable problem of being unsolved. Through the channels of material sense, of worldly policy, pomp, and pride, cometh no success in Truth." Ret, p. 79; If Mrs. Eddy's motives had been personal ambition and desire for wealth, fame, and adulation, her establishment of the Cause of Christian Science would have failed.
False ambition is based on the belief that man is a material personality, an ego separate from God, his Maker. The persistent realization that God is the source of our intelligence and activity, that He is our very Life, that all we have comes from Him, rids us of self-importance and worldly ambition. God is the great I AM. He it is who is doing everything. He is the One to whom all praise and credit should go. To Him belong glory, recognition, worship.
When we entertain the suggestion that there is satisfaction in self-will and self-aggrandizement, we are listening to the lie of personal sense—the same devil that tempted Jesus in the wilderness. If we turn away from this false suggestion of the carnal mind and exclude it from consciousness, we will become aware of the peace and satisfaction that assure us of the real, spiritual man's at-one-ment with his Father-Mother God.
In Truth, we at this moment possess all good. Therefore we do not need anything outside the spiritual unfoldment of what God and man really are. We belong to God, and it is our duty and happy privilege to serve Him humbly.
In our social activities do we aspire principally to have more and more elaborate parties, and are we hurt if we are not included in others' social gatherings? Must we have new clothes for every event and entertain a competitive thought in regard to this? Here again, in a more subtle form, is the wilderness devil. If we find ourselves trying to make an impression on people, we may know we are again favoring the devil. Only purity of thought, integrity, and brotherly love without dissimulation are truly impressive. In expressing God, good, we find our true sense of happiness and place among our fellowmen.
In the business or professional world, are we consumed with the longing to reach the top and achieve great fame and wealth and power? Our only business is to reflect God in all our ways. Our Father will reward according to our deservings in the attainment of gainful and worthwhile goals and accomplishments that will help and bless mankind. If our only ambition is to do the will of the Father humbly, reflect Christly qualities in our work, and bring a measure of His truth to our co-workers, we will have an abundance of good—sufficient supply, comfortable homes, and satisfying relationships. Jesus said, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matt. 6:33;
When these things are added, we will consider them in their true perspective as symbols of God's ever-present goodness and give God the glory. Mrs. Eddy says, "Unselfish ambition, noble life-motives, and purity,—these constituents of thought, mingling, constitute individually and collectively true happiness, strength, and permanence." Science and Health, p. 58;
In our church work, do we secretly covet a certain position: chairman of a particular committee, member of the executive board, Reader? Do we feel we should know certain people or do certain things in order to achieve this? What is our true motive for joining church in the first place?
Our fervent and only wish must be to serve God in the way of His appointing. And if we sincerely endeavor to do this, humbly and faithfully, He will place us in exactly the right position where we can give the most and bless the most. Church is an infinite spiritual idea, not an aggregation of corporeal personalities. We find in the human expression of this idea an opportunity to give, to share, to put into action the wonderful spiritual unfoldments that have come to us through daily contemplation and living of the Christ, Truth.
Jesus well knew the errors of personal sense and the pitfalls of false ambition. He strongly rebuked the thought of who should be greatest. He made it very plain that he came to minister, not to be ministered unto, and that the disciples should do the same. In the beautiful act of washing the disciples' feet (see John 13), he pointed out to them very graphically and unmistakably the importance of humility and serving. He leveled any thought of personal ambition.
If we, within our own consciousness, find ourselves right with God, pleased only with pleasing Him and reflecting His love, it will not be too important to us what our outward task may be. We will not care whether we are sweeping the church entry or reading at the desk.
Have we been longtime, faithful workers in the Field but in recent years have found our work unrecognized? Does this disturb us? Or does it compel us to rise higher, search our thinking, and face honestly the question, Why? The answer lies with us, not with our fellow church workers. There is plenty of work for all; and if we are doing well what we are given to do, that is sufficient. God will take care of the rest. Mrs. Eddy quotes a poet, "Only great as I am good." Message to The Mother Church for 1902, p. 14;
To demonstrate loyally our true selfhood as ideas of divine Mind, we must have and feel the all-consuming desire to find more ways in which to serve God and glorify Him in our daily lives. We should make higher demonstrations, increase our understanding with the treasures of Truth in our homes, in the business world, and in our churches, ever pushing toward greater and greater unfoldment in order to bring the Christ to humanity.
We must feel the divine urge to press ever toward that "mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Phil. 3:14; To yearn to achieve this goal above all else, regardless of money, position, or fame, is the only right ambition.
Mrs. Eddy writes, "I learned long ago that the world could neither deprive me of something nor give me anything, and I have now one ambition and one joy." Miscellaneous Writings, p. 281; And we know from her lifework that this one ambition was to love God supremely and serve Him always. Let this be the one ambition and joy of all.
