The Call for Higher Ambitions Among Christians

Many Christians tend to aim too low. There’s often a confusion between humility and negativity, or meekness and mediocrity, which leads us to believe that God intends for us to suppress our ambitions. In this process, we can inadvertently turn failure into a distorted form of virtue disguised as humility, when, in truth, it reflects a lack of faith.

But God never intended for His followers to be mere “beautiful losers.” His purpose was for us to reign alongside Christ.

To pursue glory, honor, and immortality aligns perfectly with what God has promised to those who are faithful.

The Biblical perspective on humanity is far more dignified than the self-loathing or misguided humility often seen today. The life of a Christian is anything but small. Those who are redeemed are not meant to live meekly; rather, God created us for His glory.

Let’s reflect on Paul’s words in Romans 2:6-8. He mentions, “Seeking glory, honor, and immortality,” which leads to eternal life. I’ve pondered this verse for quite some time, finding it a bit perplexing. It seems counterintuitive to say that seeking glory and honor equals salvation, especially since the message of Romans emphasizes grace over works. So, what exactly is Paul implying?

Here’s a brief summary of my thoughts, which I’ll elaborate on further.

Originally, God designed humanity to pursue glory, honor, and immortality through faithful obedience and stewardship over creation. Adam’s sin disrupted this path, preventing him from attaining that glory. However, Christ, as the second Adam, succeeded where Adam failed, restoring humanity to its original purpose. Thus, saved Christians are now free to pursue glory and honor through faith, empowered by the Holy Spirit, while exercising divine stewardship in a way that glorifies God.

Understanding Adam’s Lost Glory

To unpack Paul’s message in Romans 2:6-10, it helps to revisit the Garden of Eden. Genesis 2 talks about two trees: the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam was permitted to eat from the first but prohibited from the second.

When Adam disobeyed, he faced exile. God cast him out of the Garden and placed cherubim with a flaming sword to guard access to the tree of life (Genesis 3:24).

These trees symbolize two different paths: glory or death. Had Adam remained obedient, he would have eaten from the tree of life and achieved immortality. Instead, by seeking forbidden knowledge, he fell under a deadly curse.

Initially, Adam was created pure, yet not entirely glorious. God entrusted him with a grand mission: to “be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth, subdue it, and conquer” (Genesis 1:28). This task was nothing short of global in scope. Adam’s role was to expand and bring the unknown world beyond Eden under his dominion. God fashioned Adam with a purposeful end, to ascend from innocence to glory through faithful adherence to divine commands.

For Adam to fulfill his calling, he would need to acquire a variety of skills he didn’t possess at creation. He was meant to cultivate the garden, name the animals, lead his wife, and raise children. This potential likely developed gradually through experience.

Though moral and innocent, Adam wasn’t yet truly “wonderful.” By faithfully following God’s guidance, he could have achieved glory through increasing competence in pursuit of divinely inspired ambitions. In doing so, he would have developed intellectually, physically, and spiritually.

Where Adam fell short, Christ flourished, and it was through Christ’s obedience that glory was reclaimed.

To sum it up, innocence was merely a starting point, whereas glory was the ultimate goal.

Now consider Paul’s depiction of sin. It stretches beyond simply “doing bad things”; it emphasizes falling short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). This understanding is critical—sin isn’t just about breaking rules, but a failure to reach the glory originally intended for humanity.

Christ, Our Glorious Restoration

Nonetheless, the narrative doesn’t conclude with Adam’s failure. Christ is portrayed as the “last Adam” who triumphed where the first stumbled. In His humanity, Christ embraced the same journey as Adam, but without sin.

The author of Hebrews highlights this connection, referencing Psalm 8:

What is man that you are mindful of him? Or the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor and put everything under his feet. (Hebrews 2:6-8)

Both Romans 2 and Hebrews 2 echo the words “glory” and “honor.” Hebrews 2 intricately ties the creation of humanity with Christ’s incarnation, who too was crowned with glory and honor. Through His suffering and death, Christ effectively “birthed many sons” into glory (Hebrews 2:10).

When Adam faltered, Christ stepped in to succeed, and this was a direct result of Christ’s obedience: glory. Jesus himself pointed out, “Didn’t Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” (Luke 24:26).

Christ reset humanity’s narrative, reconnecting the lost circuit of glory. He achieved the glory Adam forfeited and generously offers it to His followers. God intends to restore humanity to its rightful position as rulers of creation, adorning it with glory and honor, thus reviving Adam’s original commission.

Therefore, through Christ, the arc of humanity’s salvation is completed. A fulfilling Christian journey will be characterized more by glory than by mediocrity. Our Savior will reward those who are faithful in their pursuit of such grandeur. Through obedience, glory is again attainable.

The Restored Path to Glory

Returning to Romans 2:6-7, when Paul talks about God rewarding each person based on their deeds, he’s not advocating for a merit-based salvation. Rather, he describes the rewards of faith, stemming from a life transformed by grace. Those who “seek glory, honor, and immortality” aren’t striving for selfish exaltation. They are treading the path laid out by Christ, the second Adam, who reached glory through obedience.

Christians ought to undertake all things for God’s glory (1 Corinthians 10:31) while also yearning for the glory of our inheritance (Romans 5:2). Those united in faith with God are once again free to chase after what Adam lost.

Indeed, God possesses great ambitions. The act of creation itself is ambitious (Genesis 1:28), and the Great Commission reflects that same ambition (Matthew 28:18-20). These missions are intended for a global reach and can only be achieved by Spirit-filled individuals willing to take bold steps for God. Thus, saved Christians are designed to pursue great, glorious ambitions.

Those who conflate humility with mediocrity seem to be settling for far less than what God envisions for them. God calls His followers to exert dominion, teach, create, and govern under Christ’s authority. Seeking glory, honor, and immortality means pursuing what God has promised to those who are faithful.

Glory: A Shared Abundance

You might be surprised to learn that glorifying God can also lead to us receiving glory in return. It’s a common misconception that God’s glory is a limited resource. Take, for example, David’s triumph over Goliath. Who truly gets that glory? This question might catch you off guard. David could have easily chosen to stay back, tending to his sheep, avoiding any risks. By doing so, he would have remained innocent, yet devoid of glory.

Innocence and glory are distinct concepts. One can be innocent without action, but glory requires risk, faith, and obedience. By stepping onto the battlefield, David seized the opportunity to glorify God through his bravery. That’s why he’s remembered today. He didn’t stay back—he charged into battle.

While God gained glory through David’s victory, David also shared in that glory. This is because God’s glory isn’t a zero-sum game; it can expand exponentially. The more we glorify God, the more of His glory pours out onto those who courageously act in faith.

Some Christians may feel guilty about taking pleasure in achieving great things. They might worry if it’s rooted in pride or selfish ambition. Sure, those concerns are valid, but it’s also quite possible they’re simply relishing the goodness that comes from their achievements.

It’s far better to chase glory while acknowledging and repenting of any pride that crops up than to let the fear of pride stifle the glory that rightfully belongs to us. It’s preferable to repent while striving for greatness than to bury your gifts and sidestep risks.

Ambitious Pursuits Yield Greater Glory

This notion is important since glory serves as a powerful motivator for Christians to pursue ambitious objectives. Generally, the greater the ambition, the more significant the glory attained once it’s realized.

When it comes to glory, ambition and achievement are proportional. A child might feel a bit of glory after winning a backyard football game. In stark contrast, someone who wins a Super Bowl rings experiences a much fuller taste of it. The same principle applies within God’s kingdom. Essentially, larger goals bring about greater glory. Real glory exists on the battlefield, not on a couch.

There’s glory in raising faithful children, mastering one’s craft, launching a business that serves others, and providing exemplary service. Christians should strive to be the most capable, disciplined, and creative individuals possible. Why shouldn’t we? We are empowered by the Holy Spirit, entrusted with a divine mission, and commanded to lead. It means we should aim higher, not lower.

Encouragement to Aspire

Unfortunately, many Christians do not adopt this mindset and, as a result, end up settling for lower aspirations. They might believe that prayer, attending church, tithing, reading the Bible, and avoiding trouble constitute the fullness of a Christian life. While none of those practices are inherently wrong, they do not encapsulate what a truly wonderful existence could be.

Innocence serves as the journey’s starting line, yet glory must ultimately be the destination.

So if you’re offered a job promotion, seize it. If you have an innovative business concept, pursue it. When a leadership opportunity presents itself, take the plunge. Shouldn’t devoted Christians strive to be the best leaders and managers available?

Striving for excellence in your career allows you to positively impact others. That’s a true manifestation of regaining control.

God has blessed you with gifts and opportunities. The real question is what you intend to do with them. Are you settling for less out of a misplaced sense of humility? Or are you actively seeking glory through faith?

We were never intended to drag ourselves through life as failures, nor should we apologize for our achievements. God has adorned us with glory and honor and released us into this world. So, don’t stifle your ambitions under the guise of humility. God hasn’t called us to be mere beautiful losers; He has called us to reign alongside Christ. Aim higher. Pursue greatness for God’s glory. And when you achieve, give God the glory and relish the shared glory He offers.

May your quest for glory lead you upward, outward, and abundantly fruitful.