Contentment and Ambition: Can a Christian Want to Grow?

If you are a Christian with big goals for your business, you may feel a quiet tension. On one hand, Scripture praises contentment and warns against greed. On the other, you feel a genuine desire to grow, build and accomplish more. Is ambition a problem? Should you be satisfied with what you have?

This is a real question, and it deserves a careful answer. Scripture does not set contentment and ambition against each other. It shows how to hold them together.

What contentment means

Paul wrote: "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." (Philippians 4:11, KJV). He went on to explain that he had known both plenty and hunger, and he had learned to be content in either.

Notice two things. First, contentment is learned. It does not come naturally. Second, Paul's contentment did not depend on his circumstances. He was content when he had little and when he had much.

Contentment, then, is not the same as having no goals. It is a settled peace that does not depend on reaching them.

Ambition in Scripture

The Bible also shows people with strong, holy ambition. Nehemiah set out to rebuild a city wall and did it with remarkable drive. Paul made it his aim to preach where Christ had not yet been named (Romans 15:20). The faithful servants in the parable of the talents put their master's money to work rather than burying it.

Paul also told the Corinthians: "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31, KJV). Ambition aimed at God's glory and the good of others is not only allowed. It can be a form of worship.

At the same time, the prophet Jeremiah recorded a warning to his scribe Baruch: "And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not" (Jeremiah 45:5, KJV). The key words are for thyself. The problem is not seeking great things. It is seeking them mainly for our own glory.

Healthy and unhealthy ambition

It may help to compare the two side by side.

Healthy ambition:

• Aims at serving others and honoring God.
• Is willing to accept limits and hear no.
• Can celebrate others' success.
• Fits within rest, family and integrity.
• Holds outcomes loosely.

Unhealthy ambition:

• Aims mainly at status, wealth or proving something.
• Cannot tolerate setbacks or limits.
• Feels threatened by others' success.
• Sacrifices rest, family or honesty to get ahead.
• Makes your peace depend on results.

Most of us have a mix of both. The goal is not perfect motives, but growing awareness and a willingness to be corrected.

Motive-check questions

Before pursuing a major goal, such as a new location, a big revenue target or a major expansion, take time to answer these questions honestly:

1. Why do I want this? Write down every reason, including the less flattering ones.
2. Who will it serve? Customers, employees, community or mainly me?
3. What will it cost? In time, rest, relationships and risk.
4. Would I be at peace if it does not happen? If not, the goal may have too much hold on you.
5. Am I willing to pursue it with integrity, even if that makes it slower or harder?
6. Have I prayed about it and sought counsel from people who will be honest?

If your answers reveal mixed motives, you do not necessarily need to abandon the goal. Confess what you see, ask God to purify your motives and keep checking as you go.

Contentment is not complacency

Some people use contentment as a reason to avoid effort or growth. That is not what Scripture means. Contentment is peace in God, not a lack of diligence. You can be deeply content and still work hard to improve, serve more people and build something valuable.

Practices for holding both

• Practice gratitude for what you have before reaching for more.
• Keep a weekly day of rest, which reminds you that your worth does not depend on progress.
• Give generously, especially as the business grows.
• Celebrate others' success sincerely.
• Define what enough looks like, so ambition has limits.

For more on that last practice, see how big is big enough?. And for the wider perspective of managing everything as entrusted, see owner or steward.

Frequently asked questions

Is it wrong for a Christian to want to be successful in business?

No. Wanting to build something excellent that serves people well is a good desire. The question is what success means to you, why you want it and what you are willing to sacrifice to get it.

How do I know if my ambition has become unhealthy?

Warning signs include sacrificing rest, family or integrity for growth, feeling threatened by others' success, and losing your peace when goals are not met.

Can I be content and still set big goals?

Yes. Contentment is a settled peace in God that does not depend on reaching goals. You can pursue big goals wholeheartedly while trusting God with the outcome.