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Ambition

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lareli:
What do you think about ambition vs contentment?

Can you possess both? I know that scripture tells us that contentment is a good thing but does scripture have anything good or bad to say about ambition? Can contentment be an excuse for laziness? Or can laziness be mistaken as contentment?

Or how about fear? Can fear of change be mistaken for contentment? Or contentment an excuse for fear?



Thanks

Dave in Tenn:
Php 4:11  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
Php 4:12  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
Php 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Contentment is to be found in whatever state you are in.  There are consequences to all our actions, though where we find ourselves at-the-moment (in whatsoever state) is not fully the result of our own actions. 

It certainly isn't just the "poor" who can be malcontent.  It certainly isn't just the poor who should be content.

It's easier to be content when you are somewhere in-between...neither hungry nor rich.  Unless, of course, you can't be content in either. 

I reckon both contentment and ambition are "spiritual".  What's the motivation?  What are the means?  Maybe that goes to the rest of your question.

   

 

Dave in Tenn:
Just a purely "secular" side-note.  I've read that, in the US, there is generally more "contentment" (the sense of well-being) the closer one gets to a salary of $70,000.  After that, there is no additional rise in "contentment" no matter how much more you can call "yours".

That's social science, not a hard-cold fact applying to everybody individually.  And I'm far less-than-sure that this is genuine "contentment".     

Joel:
Paul wrote a good bit about contentment in 1st Timothy chapter 6.
6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

Joel

Dennis Vogel:
Ambitious to creative is one thing and ambitious to be wealthy is another.

It's easy to get caught up in the world and let your ego/vanity get the best of you. Just keep in mind where all blessings come from.

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