12 Bible Verses about Ambition, negative aspects of

"What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. "Grant us this," they answered, "to sit, one on your right, and the other on your left, when you come in glory."

"What is it that you want?" he asked. "I want you to say," she replied, "that in your Kingdom these two sons of mine may sit, one on your right, and the other on your left."

And a dispute arose among them as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.

The former spread the news of the Christ in a factious spirit, and not sincerely, thinking to add to the pain of my chains.

Who so opposes himself to every one that is spoken of as a God or as an object of worship, and so exalts himself above them, that he seats himself in the Temple of God, and displays himself as God! Do not you remember how, when I was with you, I used to speak to you of all this? And you know now what the restraining influence is which prevents his appearing before his appointed time.read more.
Wickedness, indeed, is already at work in secret; but only until he who at present restrains it is removed out of the way.

The sins of our earthly nature are unmistakable. They are sins like these--unchastity, impurity, indecency, Idolatry, sorcery, quarrels, strife, jealousy, outbursts of passion, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, Feelings of envy, drunkenness, revelry, and the like. And I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who indulge in such things will have no place in the Kingdom of God.

And it was among them that we all once lived our lives, indulging the cravings of our earthly nature, and carrying out the desires prompted by that earthly nature and by our own thoughts. Our very nature exposed us to the Divine Wrath, like the rest of mankind.

for all that the world can offer--the gratification of the earthly nature, the gratification of the eye, the pretentious life--belongs, not to the Father, but to the world.

Whoever shall exalt himself will be humbled, and whoever shall humble himself will be exalted.

Those meant by the seed sown among the brambles are different; they are the people who hear the Message, But the cares of life, and the glamour of wealth, and cravings for many other things come in and completely choke the Message, so that it gives no return.

But, while you harbor envy and bitterness and a spirit of rivalry in your hearts, do not boast or lie to the detriment of the Truth. That is not the wisdom which comes from above; no, it is earthly, animal, devilish. For, where envy and rivalry exist, there you will also find disorder and all kinds of base actions.

Nothing should be done in a factious spirit or from vanity, but each of you should with all humility regard others as of more account than himself,