Can anyone defend ambition?

At the recent Q conference on Women and Calling, speaker Kathy Khang did.

I thought it was a curious choice. I was uncomfortable because, well, in the words of Khang, ambition feels like a “kind of dirty word.” It smacks of competition and desire for fame and power—principles Scripture doesn’t call us to emulate.

As I wrestled with this, Khang brought me to the present when she challenged my traditional understanding of ambition. “We are called to bigger and better things than building a tower in our own name,” she said.

To illustrate her point, Khang turned to the pages of Scripture, sharing her personal version of the story of Martha and Mary. As the oldest in her family, Khang likened herself to Martha—the busy one, the person who hosts the event and embodies ambition as it’s traditionally defined.

Khang’s younger sister is like Mary. She doesn’t lend a hand, but rather sits among the guests, spending time with them. In sharing her story, Khang said she always wondered why her sister never helped her. “She just sits there,” Khang joked, with a wry smile. “I mean, she just sits!”

In the biblical account, Martha brings this to Jesus’ attention, saying: “Lord, doesn’t it bother you that my sister has left me to do all the work myself? Tell her to come and help me!” Luke 10, 40(b) (CEV) In other words, Martha is saying: “Tell Mary to have more ambition—my kind of ambition.”

But Jesus doesn’t command Mary to get up. Nor does he tell Martha to sit down. He simply says: “Mary has chosen what is best, and it will not be taken from her.” Luke 10, 41-42 (CEV)

Mary doesn’t build a tower in her own name. Instead, she simply sits at Jesus’ feet, listens to him and loves him.

It’s the kind of ambition that needs to be defended—and honored.