9 Bible Verses about Ambition, Warnings Regarding

But it must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever is greatest among you must become like the youngest, and whoever leads, like the one serving.

Then the tempter approached Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” But He answered, “It is written:

Man must not live on bread alone
but on every word that comes
from the mouth of God.” Then the Devil took Him to the holy city, had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, read more.
and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:

He will give His angels orders concerning you,
and they will support you with their hands
so that you will not strike
your foot against a stone.” Jesus told him, “It is also written: Do not test the Lord your God.” Again, the Devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. And he said to Him, “I will give You all these things if You will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus told him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written:

Worship the Lord your God,
and serve only Him.” Then the Devil left Him, and immediately angels came and began to serve Him.

Then an argument started among them about who would be the greatest of them. But Jesus, knowing the thoughts of their hearts, took a little child and had him stand next to Him. He told them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in My name welcomes Me. And whoever welcomes Me welcomes Him who sent Me. For whoever is least among you—this one is great.”

Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

What will it benefit a man if he gains the whole world yet loses his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?

You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. You do not have because you do not ask.

He also said in His teaching, “Beware of the scribes, who want to go around in long robes, and who want greetings in the marketplaces, the front seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and say long prayers just for show. These will receive harsher punishment.”

Woe to him who dishonestly makes
wealth for his house
to place his nest on high,
to escape from the reach of disaster!

Moreover, wine betrays;
an arrogant man is never at rest.
He enlarges his appetite like Sheol,
and like Death he is never satisfied.
He gathers all the nations to himself;
he collects all the peoples for himself.