Episode 244 - Developing Holy Ambition With Chip Ingram
Apr 4, 2023
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Chip Ingram, author of the book 'Holy Ambition', explores the tension between faith and ambition for entrepreneurs. He discusses the concept of holy ambition and aligning it with God's agenda. The podcast also covers responding to devastation with prayer and repentance, discerning holy ambition, understanding Jesus in the Gospels, and developing a right understanding of God and themes of community and sin.
Balancing ambition and faithfulness as an entrepreneur requires aligning ambitions with God's will and being a servant.
Distinguishing between personal ambition and holy ambition involves discernment through self-reflection, community feedback, and alignment with God's purpose.
Deep dives
Balancing ambition and faithfulness
This podcast episode explores the challenge of balancing ambition and faithfulness for entrepreneurs. It highlights the natural drive and desire for excellence in entrepreneurial work but cautions against wilfulness and striving for greatness instead of relying on God's control. The guest, Chip Ingram, discusses the principles from his book 'Holy Ambition', which emphasizes turning God-shaped dreams into reality. He emphasizes the importance of aligning ambition with God's direction, being a servant, and finding peace in God's control.
Understanding the difference between ambition and holy ambition
The episode delves into the distinction between ambition and holy ambition. Ambition is defined as a strong desire to achieve success, fame, power, and wealth. Holy ambition, on the other hand, refers to passionate pursuit of fulfilling a clearly God-directed agenda. It involves aligning one's gifts, talents, and wounds around a purpose that brings honor to God. The discussions highlight the importance of discerning between personal ambition and holy ambition through personal reflection, community feedback, and responding to challenges in a way that aligns with God's will.
The importance of strategic planning in achieving holy ambition
The podcast emphasizes the significance of having a strategic plan to fulfill holy ambition. To illustrate this point, the story of Nehemiah, a biblical figure and entrepreneur, is explored. Nehemiah's passion to transform his community led him to develop a strategic plan after seeking God in prayer and reflection. The podcast emphasizes the need for a strategic plan to bridge the gap between ambition and God's direction. It emphasizes the importance of engaging in prayer, seeking wise counsel, and surrendering personal desires to align with God's purpose.
Trusting in the character and sovereignty of God
The episode concludes with a discussion on the need to trust in the character and sovereignty of God. It highlights the importance of gaining a clear understanding of who God is, based on the Jesus portrayed in the Gospels and the Epistles. The discussions emphasize that faith should not solely rely on personal effort or the pursuit of success, but on recognizing God's power, compassion, and justice. Trusting in God's sovereignty helps navigate challenges, remain steadfast in difficult times, and anchor hope in His ultimate plan to make all things right.
Do you ever feel a tension between your faith and your ambition?
Entrepreneurs are naturally driven. We want to innovate, change, and improve.
But as Christians, it can be tricky to balance those desires and gifts with our call to be faithful to God’s will.
So how do we navigate that tension?
Chip Ingram tackles this question on our latest podcast episode. There, he explains the concepts behind his book “Holy Ambition” and helps us understand how we can faithfully pursue our callings in a way that honors God.
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