For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
James 3:16-18

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You’ve heard it said there’s no “I” in team. It’s a simple reminder for anyone in the mix with an inflated ego or self-centered motives. We all have different gifts and skills. We all have distinct passions and pursuits. We all shoulder different levels of responsibility. There may be a designated leader who is ultimately responsible, but in the end, we rise and fall together. This is true in life, and should be reflected in the body of Christ, the church.

Just as there’s no “I” in team, Jesus’ half-brother James reminds us there are two “I’s” in ambition. He grew up with a front-row seat to Christ’s ministry. Guided by the Holy Spirit and affirmed in his experience, the author of James 3:16-18 points out the caustic nature of bitter envy and selfish ambition. The Greek word for disorder, akatastasia, reflects anarchy and political turmoil, which sadly had permeated some church communities. James instructs followers of Jesus to steer clear of this and to be ambitious for godly purity and peace, a pursuit that always involves more than one person.

Teams, families, churches and societies fragmented by selfishness result in chaos. This kind of disorder is repulsively destructive, and God lets us know there’s a way to avoid it. Courageous peacemakers ambitiously pave the way for unity with humility and gentleness. It is a much wiser way to live because peacemaking plants seeds that promise to reap a holy harvest. What healthy person doesn’t want to be surrounded by a peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere community? We certainly want this in any relationship, where our shared ambition leads to greater good, not evil.

There’s nothing wrong with pure pursuits, and today, we have an opportunity to be courageous peacemakers. When self-centeredness creeps in near you, remember there are two I’s in ambition—it’s wisdom for building up instead of tearing down. 

Next Steps

Re-read James 3:16-18. Who is someone you know who is ambitious in a good way? Identify one or more godly traits from today’s passage that you admire and how they’ve impacted you. Mail them a note, tell them over a meal, or give them a call to build them up.