Anchored Ambition - The Christian’s Guide to Success

Pages 186 Words  46,450

Every person is born with a measure of ambition. It’s that inner spark that compels us to build, grow, and make a difference in the world. From childhood dreams to adult goals, ambition is the engine that drives vision into reality. Yet for many believers, ambition comes with a question mark—a tension between wanting to succeed and wanting to stay humble before God.

Can a Christian be ambitious and still be faithful? Can we desire success without losing sight of our Savior?

These are the questions that inspired Anchored Ambition.

As someone who has spent more than fifty years in business, leadership, and ministry, I’ve seen both sides of the success story. I’ve stood in pulpits and at podiums, led churches and companies, counseled individuals and coached teams. I’ve witnessed ambition at its best—when it’s guided by purpose, fueled by prayer, and anchored in integrity. And I’ve also seen ambition at its worst—when it drifts into pride, greed, and self-reliance, leaving even the most accomplished people feeling empty.

The difference between the two is not how talented a person is, how much money they make, or how much recognition they receive. The difference is what anchors their ambition.

In the book of Proverbs, we read, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans” (Proverbs 16:3). That verse captures the essence of this book. God doesn’t condemn our drive to succeed—He simply calls us to surrender it to Him first. When we do, our plans take on eternal purpose. Our goals shift from “How much can I get?” to “How much can I give?” Our pursuit of success transforms from a self-centered race to a God-centered mission.

For more than two decades as a pastor and seminary professor, I watched people wrestle with this balance. Some were afraid to pursue their dreams, believing that ambition was somehow unspiritual. Others chased their dreams relentlessly but left their faith behind in the process. Both approaches lead to frustration. Faith without ambition lacks fruit; ambition without faith lacks foundation.

The truth is that ambition, when properly anchored, is one of God’s greatest gifts. It’s the divine spark that compels us to build churches, launch ministries, start businesses, write books, lead teams, and serve communities. Scripture is filled with examples of ambitious men and women—Joseph, Esther, Daniel, Nehemiah, Paul—who dared to dream big because they believed in an even bigger God. Their ambition didn’t separate them from God; it brought them closer to Him as they trusted Him for direction, provision, and victory.

The challenge for modern Christians is that we live in a world obsessed with results. The culture around us shouts that success is measured by likes, followers, titles, or income. But heaven measures success differently. God defines success not by how high you climb, but by how faithfully you serve along the way. The question is not “What have you achieved?” but “Who have you become?”

That’s why Anchored Ambition isn’t just about getting ahead—it’s about going deeper. It’s about learning how to pursue excellence without losing humility, how to grow influence without inflating ego, and how to live prosperously without becoming possessive.

Each chapter of this book walks through biblical principles and practical applications to help you anchor your ambition in Christ. You’ll learn how to:

·       Discover your God-given purpose and align your goals with it.

·       Build habits of faith, focus, and perseverance.

·       Steward your time, talents, and treasures for eternal impact.

·       Overcome obstacles and delays with patience and trust.

·       Use your success to bless others and glorify God.

These lessons aren’t theoretical—they come from real experiences. I’ve faced seasons of loss, doubt, and disappointment. I’ve also witnessed moments of divine breakthrough that could only be explained by God’s hand. Through it all, I’ve learned that faith is not a substitute for effort—it’s the source of direction, endurance, and peace while you’re pursuing the call of God on your life.

My prayer for this book is simple: that it will help you redefine success through the lens of faith. I want you to see that your ambition is not something to be ashamed of—it’s something to be stewarded. When you hand it over to God, He refines it, redirects it, and multiplies it beyond what you could accomplish on your own.

Jesus said,

“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).

That’s the promise that keeps our ambition in balance. When God is first, everything else falls into place—our goals, our growth, and our gratitude.

As you turn these pages, I encourage you to pray through them. Reflect on where your ambition has taken you—and where God may want to lead you next. You’ll find that success isn’t a destination; it’s a daily decision to walk in obedience, integrity, and purpose.

The world needs more believers who are bold enough to succeed and humble enough to serve. It needs businesspeople who lead with compassion, entrepreneurs who operate with integrity, and dreamers who dare to achieve without forgetting Who gave them the dream in the first place.

If you’re ready to live with focus, faith, and fulfillment—if you’re ready to turn your drive into devotion—then this book is for you.

Your ambition isn’t wrong. It just needs an anchor.

And when that anchor is Christ, success will no longer be about what you build—it will be about who you become in the process.