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What's wrong with wanting the Best?!

Matthew 20
20. Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, brought them to Jesus and respectfully asked a favor.
21. "What is your request?" he asked.
She replied, "In your Kingdom, will you let my two sons sit on two thrones next to yours?" ......
24. The other ten disciples were indignant when they heard what James and John had asked for.
LB

On the surface, the mother of James and John wanted the best for her sons! But she also wanted more: she really wanted the best places in Jesus' kingdom for them.

She had her eye on political power for James and John because she thought that Jesus' kingdom was to be an earthly one which would overthrow the power of the Roman government and make the Jews world-rulers.

So why did her request have that effect on the other ten disciples?

Because her real problem was rampant ambition and it showed itself in the selfish nature of what she was asking Jesus. Only HER sons deserved the honour of such a prestigious position, because of course, they belonged to her!

James chapter 3 says this:
16. For wherever there is jealousy or selfish ambition, there will be disorder and every other kind of evil.
LB

It is really sad when parents seek to fulfil their own ambitions through the lives of their children, instead of asking the Lord what HIS purpose is for their children, and then encouraging the children to follow God's plans.

Prayer:
Father, help me to be aware of what is really in my own heart.
Help me to see myself as You see me and to speak the truth to myself.
If I am overtaken by ambition, help me to acknowledge that and allow You to work in my heart to put things right within me,
and purify my motives,
in Jesus' name,
Amen.