Is ambition considered to be a virtue or a sin?

Question

Is ambition considered to be a virtue or a sin?

Answer 1

That depends on what your ambition is.

Answer 2

It is all about what do you long for...

It is like a knife: with it a criminal can kill an innocent person, or a doctor can save a life.

:)

Answer 3

I was trying to answer that question when God got angry at me for making a big tower and made it so that I don't speak the same language as anyone else... sorry.

Answer 4

if you are overly ambitious, that you would do ANYTHING to get what you want, then that is bad.

But if you are willing to work hard, without sacrificing the most important, to get what you want, then that is good.  

Answer 5

It depends if the ambition is selfish or not.

Answer 6

The intention is what counts. As long as there is no greed, hate, and delusion, and as long as there is full awareness, ambition is what propels us and makes us better people. Enjoy your strengths:)  

Answer 7

While ambition is not considered a sin it is still iniquity or dis balance if it is selfish in it's motive.

The principal of motivation,or why you do what you do, can be good or bad, and it mostly relies on common sense.

Answer 8

Like many things it can be either, there is nothing wrong with ambition as long as it isn't taken too far.  Hitler is a prime example of ambition going too far, his ambition was to conquer the world.  It can certainly be a virtue if your ambition is to be a great artist or even just as good at your job as you can be.  If your ambition harms anyone along the way I would say it becomes a sin at that point.

Answer 9

It all depends on your intentions; If you intend to do 'good' through your 'ambitions'... to spread goodness/etc.. then you'll be rewarded... as long as your intentions are pure... Now it can also go the other way around if your intentions are un-pure... (This is in Islam)

Answer 10

Self discipline a virtue, selfish ambition a sin.  

Answer 11

a sin, but then i am lazy and live day by day and ppl with ambition show me up

Answer 12

I think it could be either depending on how you define ambitious.

Ambition toward money and fame if it's placed before God is obviously sinful.

Answer 13

I would say that ambition should be a virtue-until a certain extent.  Ambition can give you the drive to pursue something that can help others, but too much ambition could cause you to do some unsavory things to others to get to the top.

Answer 14

A sin

God says we are to be happy or content with what God has given us.

Psa 128:1 Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.

Psa 128:2  For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.

Answer 15

Depends on what you are being ambitions ABOUT.

Selfish ambition is a sin.

Galatians 5:19,20  "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions

Phillipians 2:3

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves."

James 3:14

"But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth."

Also, here is a good source  http://delveintojesus.com/Devotionals/23...

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