1.5 Aligning Your Ambitions With God's Will
Ambition, when aligned with God's character, becomes a pathway to living into one’s calling. Through Abram’s choices, we learn that calling involves partnering with God even through mistakes and obstacles, ultimately affirming that adaptive faith and character are essential in navigating life's purpose.
Ambition-Alignment in Abram’s Call
Abram's journey poses complex questions about the alignment of ambition with God’s character and call. Can ambition misaligned with God’s will lead to forfeiting one's call? Abram’s story reveals that ambition isn’t inherently negative; instead, it reflects our inner values and character, especially when paired with God’s purpose for us.
1. Ambition Reveals Our Values and Character: Ambition can be guided by truth or selfish desire. In Genesis 13, as Abram and Lot’s possessions grow, tension arises over resources. Abram selflessly lets Lot choose first, revealing an ambition rooted in generosity. His values align with God’s call to be a blessing, demonstrating that ambition, when rightly directed, serves others and honors God.
2. Aligning Ambition with God’s Calling: Ambition isn't about personal gain but aligning our desires with God's purpose. Abram’s adaptive approach is key: he stays open to God’s direction, even when it means risking his own comfort. Instead of clinging to control, he trusts God’s promises, exemplifying a faith-centered ambition that adjusts to life's uncertainties.
3. Embracing Adaptive Faith in Uncertain Times: Faithful ambition requires flexibility. The Adaptive Map approach in our podcast emphasizes embracing God's direction, even when we feel lost or misaligned. Abram’s story illustrates that setbacks don't disqualify us; rather, each moment offers a new opportunity to align our ambitions with God’s heart.
Abram's journey shows that ambition aligned with God’s call brings clarity and blessing, even in uncertain times. Our hope is to help listeners discern God’s call in their lives and embrace an adaptive faith that meets the challenges of each season.
1. Ambition Reveals Our Values and Character: Ambition can be guided by truth or selfish desire. In Genesis 13, as Abram and Lot’s possessions grow, tension arises over resources. Abram selflessly lets Lot choose first, revealing an ambition rooted in generosity. His values align with God’s call to be a blessing, demonstrating that ambition, when rightly directed, serves others and honors God.
2. Aligning Ambition with God’s Calling: Ambition isn't about personal gain but aligning our desires with God's purpose. Abram’s adaptive approach is key: he stays open to God’s direction, even when it means risking his own comfort. Instead of clinging to control, he trusts God’s promises, exemplifying a faith-centered ambition that adjusts to life's uncertainties.
3. Embracing Adaptive Faith in Uncertain Times: Faithful ambition requires flexibility. The Adaptive Map approach in our podcast emphasizes embracing God's direction, even when we feel lost or misaligned. Abram’s story illustrates that setbacks don't disqualify us; rather, each moment offers a new opportunity to align our ambitions with God’s heart.
Abram's journey shows that ambition aligned with God’s call brings clarity and blessing, even in uncertain times. Our hope is to help listeners discern God’s call in their lives and embrace an adaptive faith that meets the challenges of each season.
Discussion Questions
- How do you define ambition in your life? Does it align with your spiritual beliefs?
- How does ambition reflect your character? Can you share an instance where your decisions revealed your values?
- Discuss a situation where you had to choose between personal gain and the good of another. What did you learn about your own ambitions?
- What does it mean to you to have ambition aligned with God's character?
- Have you ever felt disqualified from a divine calling due to a personal failure? How did you overcome this feeling?
- How does the concept of an adaptive map change your approach to life's challenges and decisions?
- Can ambitions change over time? How do we reconcile past ambitions that might no longer fit with our current understanding of our calling?
Participate in the conversation.
This podcast is a companion to the book Map Your Life Mission (download for free or buy on Amazon). Trent and Josh tell stories, ask personal questions, develop the Adaptive Map framework, and connect the Biblical narrative in each episode.
