Dave Harvey - Rescuing Ambition

In Rescuing Ambition, Dave Harvey distinguishes ambition for the glory of God, which is good, from ambition for the glory of self, which is bad. But godly ambition doesnt exist in a vacuum, so Harvey helps us see how it is intertwined with humility, contentment, faith, and above all, the gospel. Dave Harvey is both an experienced pastor and a gifted writer, so you will find this book not only profitable but also hard to put down.

JERRY BRIDGES, author, The Pursuit of Holiness

Thomas Watson said, Selfish ambition is the mother of all schisms. But Dave Harvey shows us a better way in Rescuing Ambition. With wit and wisdom, Dave uncovers the truth in scripture to teach how God forms a gospel-driven ambition in us for use in his mission and for his glory. I hope every leader in the church today will read Rescuing Ambition.

ED STETZER, President, LifeWay Research

Dave Harvey thinks well, writes well, tells good stories, and cites people of substance and insight. I have long appreciated Daves integrity, wisdom and perspective. Were I not afraid of feeding his ambition for greatness, or my ambition to write a memorable endorsement, I would add that RescuingAmbition is biblical, honest, witty, and sometimes amusing. Im happy to recommend this fine book on an important and overlooked subject.

RANDY ALCORN, author, If God is Good and Heaven

Rescuing Ambition is a book for all of us who were created by God, who strive to excel. It applies to every Christian. Dave Harvey brilliantly and accessibly answers the question, Can Christians be humble and ambitious at the same time? He explains why and how we can, always rooting his presentation in Scripture. This is a book that has needed to be written. You will not be disappointed.

JIM TEBBE, Vice President of Missions; Director, Urbana Missions Conference,
Intervarsity Christian Fellowship

Whether youre on Main Street or Wall Street this book has something to say to you. No author has done a better job of helping me understand my heart, my motives, and my Savior. Harvey uses humor, Scripture, and real-life examples to help us balance our dreams and callings, while always reminding us that Jesus is the Christ.

JOSH DECKARD, Former Assistant Press Secretary to President Bush

Ambition is war; a battle between the sin-driven pursuit of autonomy, self-sufficiency, and self-glory and a humble desire that everything you do would reflect the one thing that is excellent in every way, the glory of God. On every page, Harvey alerts us to this war and trains us to be good soldiers.

PAUL TRIPP, President, Paul Tripp Ministries

As the leader of an organization expressly dedicated to seeing the gospel deepen in our own lives as well as expand outward to the nations, Im grateful for Dave Harveys recovery of the idea of ambition. Daves book is a powerful, plainspoken, Scripture-saturated reminder that when the gospel is the center of our identity and security, we can be freed from the petty dreams and small-minded motivations that often hamstring ministry. In the gospel, we find the freedom to be truly ambitious.

BOB OSBORNE, Executive Director, World Harvest Mission

From page one, Daves writing style gripped me with his humor, humility, and down-to-earth, Biblesaturated style. I dont think I have ever seen a book on ambition, but I have been trying to provoke men to find some ambition, borrow some, or if they were really ambitious, even steal some! Dave writes to those of us who arent ambitious enough to read (much less comprehend) a thick theological treatise, but are interested enough to read the words of someone who understands that we are often content to watch others with ambition as they ride up mountains, compose great music, and attempt the unthinkablelike homeschool three kids. This is not a self-help book that doesnt really help; it is a wake-up alarm to rouse the good gifts specifically placed within us by God for his own glory.

SCOTT THOMAS, Director, Acts 29 Church Planting Network

I didnt know that my ambition was defective and in need of rescuing until I read this book. Harvey writes with such compelling insight and clarity that youre left thinking the lack of godly ambition ranks alongside pragmatism and theological flimsiness as ailments afflicting the church today. Yet, at root, this book isnt about problem-hunting nearly as much as it is about the gospel, salvation, and embracing the ambitious agenda Jesus sets for our lives. Those who want to live with high and glorious purpose for the Savior must read this book. So do those who dont, and those who never thought about what godly ambition really involves. Rescuing Ambition calls us to live large, bold lives by swiping as much glory for Jesus as possible.

THABITI ANYABWILE, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church of Grand Cayman; author, The Faithful Preacher

Dave Harvey teaches us that God wants ambition back in our understanding of godliness and spiritual health. As Christians, we are to be zealous for good works (Titus 2:13)that is, ambitious for them. We are to be people who dream and do big things for the glory of God and the good of others. Lets not be content with small dreams cloaked in a guise of humility. This is a critical book for the church today because it helps us recover the spirit of William Carey, who ambitiously said Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God.

MATT PERMAN, Director of Strategy, Desiring God Ministries

Dave Harvey has delivered a compelling case for developing God-ward ambition in the lives of men and women alike. This insightful book carries a timely message in our whatever culture: we all have ambition, but where it is aimed and how it is used is worth serious consideration. With self-effacing humor, Dave reveals how being wired for glory can either corrupt us or lead us to a divine agenda. Highly recommended!

CAROLYN MCCULLEY, author, Radical Womanhood: Feminine Faith in a Feminist World and Did I Kiss Marriage Goodbye? Trusting God with a Hope Deferred

Only an ambitious person would try to rescue ambition! Only an ambitious person would actually take the time to write a book on the topic. And only a humble person could accomplish the task!

There is a vast difference between selfish ambition and godly ambition. If you want to know what sets them apart, read this book and discover the radical difference between self-glory and Gods glory. As in his book on marriage, When Sinners Say I Do, you will find Dave writing out of his own failures and growth in grace. Interestingly, ambition can be rescued but you wont get there without bathing ambition in gospel virtues and life experiences like humility, service, contentment, failure, and community. And you wont get there without a Redeemer. Dave makes certain that you meet this Redeemer, Jesus, throughout the pages of this book. If you struggle with selfish ambition or lack ambition altogether, this book will help you.

TIMOTHY S. LANE, Executive Director and Faculty, Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation

Dave Harvey isnt satisfied to live a mediocre life and he isnt satisfied to see the followers of Jesus live that way either. In his down-to-earth style, Dave takes the concept of ambition from the reject pile of Christian vocabulary and reminds us that it is desirable, no, it is a gospel imperative to be ambitious for the right reasons and the right goals. His arguments are not psycho-babble, either, but grounded in scripture, theologically sound, and intensely practical.

TIM WITMER, Professor of Practical Theology, Westminster Theological Seminary