I was having lunch with some friends the other day and talking about a colleague who was ambitious. I contrasted myself with the colleague and said I didn’t want to move up the ranks. I wasn’t ambitious.

At this point they did a sideways look at each other. I clarified that I didn’t want to move up the ranks. Didn’t they know this already?

It turns out they believe I am ambitious. They said how could I not be with all the studying I am doing?

I had just been talking about learning Greek earlier in the conversation.

However, I don’t believe I’m ambitious. In fact, I know I’m not.

Unless we’re talking about being ambitious for God. Then I’m OK with you calling me ambitious.

Because I know that I actually don’t care what’s on my CV. I care whether what’s on my CV is what God wants on my CV.

I know that I don’t sign up to the next piece of study because I want more pieces of paper on my wall. I’d be happy with less on my wall. I sign up to the next piece of study because I want to be obedient.

And it just turns out that God often wants me to do things that look like I’m adding to my CV.

But I know the truth.

He wants us to be his hands and feet in this world, doesn’t he? How can we do that well if we don’t really know what we’re doing? I’d prefer to be well-prepared than wreck the people I’m supposed to be serving.

I hope it’s OK to be ambitious for God. Provided we keep our heart and motivation squarely in line with his, I think it is.

If not, I’ll have to stop writing this blog.

Yours back again tomorrow,

Alison