Vain Conceits

 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (Philippians 2:3-4)

          Selfish ambition. Vain conceit. These are weapons used against us in our spiritual warfare. But, once again, we need some definitions. Is seeking a better job than the one you have selfish ambition? Is wearing an outfit you like and that you think makes you “sparkle,” even if it doesn’t, vain conceit? These terms are frustrating in their lack of specificity. If you take something that doesn’t belong to you without the permission of the owner, that’s theft. It’s easy to define. If you unlawfully and maliciously take the life of another human being, that’s murder. But is there such a thing as unselfish ambition? Would it be acceptable? I think so, if it’s truly unselfish. Is there conceit that isn’t vain? Would it be acceptable. Since conceit is excessive pride, by definition, I don’t think it’s acceptable, but can we be proud without having vain conceit? Maybe. Maybe not. And where is the line between an acceptable form of ambition or pride, and an unacceptable form?

         I don’t think there is a firm line for everyone. A friend told a story about a friend of hers who was convicted about wearing earrings. It wasn’t that no one should wear earrings, but that the friend-of-a-friend found that wearing them caused her problems. I suspect that selfish ambition and vain conceit are like that. When they become a problem is different for each person. Or, perhaps there is an ultimately line, but for each person, our sensitivity with regard to that line grows over time, so that we move closer to the proper line over time.

          That may not help us much. One of the challenges to selfish ambition and vain conceit is that we don’t even realize we’ve taken that one step too far. So, what sort of line in the sand can we draw? Perhaps a good place to begin is with a check of our motives. Some questions we might ask ourselves:

Am I doing this to prove myself to someone (including God or me?)

Am I doing this because accomplishing it or having it will prove I’m good enough, valuable, or otherwise “there,” having made it.

Will what I am doing harm someone else? Even someone we think deserves it?

          I struggle a lot with “Not Good Enough.” To be what I see as competent is crucial. If only I could … then I would be good enough. Would this not be at least an example of selfish ambition and vain conceit – to seek to achieve “good-enough-ness” in and of ourselves? Especially if we know perfectly well that it’s not possible to be good enough in and of ourselves?

          If this doesn’t answer the question of your selfish ambition or vain conceit, what does? We’ll look at the issue of the interests of others tomorrow.