“Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.”
~Martin Luther King, Jr.
After outwitting a butcher, a clever dog frantically ran from town with a steak suspended from his jaws. As he crossed a narrow bridge, he looked down and noticed his reflection exchanging glances with him. Thinking his likeness was a second dog with a larger steak than his own, he snapped at the duplicate in an effort to steal its meal. However, in doing so, he let go of his first prize and was forced to watch the feast vanish beneath the surface of the brackish water. Whats the lesson to be learned? ”If we greedily grasp after the chimeras beyond our reach, the treasures we already have sail away…” “All man’s efforts are for his mouth, yet his appetite is never satisfied.” ~Ecclesiastes 6:7 NIV
As foolish as the dog was in this classic tale, many believers live their lives in the very same manner. They lead a life of vain pursuit chasing after the superficial pleasures and vices of the world thinking “the grass in greener on the other side of the fence”. They carelessly abandon the virtues of sound Biblical doctrine to quest after the illusion of success. But at what cost does this success come? The dog from Aesop’s fable lost his lunch. However, as humans, we are at risk for losing far greater attachments. Spouses, careers, children, and valuable time can all suffer or even be lost due to a persons selfish discontent. Money, sex, clothes, cars, an education, mansions… There is nothing wrong with possessing any of these things. However, to pursue them as if they would bring you joy beyond a fleeting moment is a falsehood believed to be true by many. Lets take a look at a few scriptures to see what the Bible has to say about selfish ambition.
“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” ~Galations 5:16-21 NIV
“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” ~Matthew 6:31-33 NIV
“For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.” ~Phillipians 3:16 NIV
Ambition is defined as an earnest desire for some type of achievement or distinction, as power, honor, fame, or wealth, and the willingness to strive for its attainment. Is their anything wrong with being ambitious? No. At least not in and of itself. When that ambition takes on a life of its own and becomes self seeking and places its own interest above the interest of others, then there is a problem. Then ambition turns into greed and/or envy. Greed is defined as an excessive or rapacious desire, especially for wealth or possessions. Envy is defined as a feeling of discontent or covetousness with regard to anthers advantages, success, or possessions. The Bible warns against this type of behavior and even goes so far as to call it demonic.
“But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.” ~James 3:14-16 NIV
”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.” ~Phillipians 2:3-4 NIV
A reoccuring trend in the Church is where people in ministry (pastors, preachers, bishops, deacons, rabbi, etc) use the pulpit as a method to pursue their own selfish desires. These evil people divide churches, tarnish the image of the Kingdom, and destroy families all in the pursuit of high grandeur. The Bible is very clear on not only how God sees these people, but also how we as individuals should interact with them.
God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism. ~Romans 2:6-11 NIV
People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. ~2 Timothy 3:2-5 NIV
Jesus Christ is the son of God and has been described as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. However, he was a servant FIRST. How quickly some our of Brothers and Sisters in the pulpit forget that Jesus washed his disciples feet and not the other way around. They have forgotten that Jesus rode a donkey to work, not a Mercedes. Jesus could have been born in a palace but, instead God saw it fit for His only begotten son to be born in a horse trough. Are all of these things a coincidence? Probably not.
If we look upwards towards the composition of the night sky, it is fairly easy to locate the moon. It glows brightly compared to the other heavenly bodies, yet it does not generate or emit a light of its own. It merely reflects the light being transmitted from the sun allowing late night travelers to find their destinations. As believers, we should maintain a similar attitude respective to our position in the Kingdom. WE ARE NOT THE SON. We are merely bodies that reflect and retransmit His light so others can find their final destination. To consider ourselves greater than what we are because of our position in the ministry is foolish. For like the moon, we are just another cold and lifeless body without the Son.
“What will you gain, if you own the whole world but destroy yourself or waste your life?” ~Luke 9:25 CEV
Right now, I would like you to take a moment to consider the pursuits of your day to day life. Would they be pleasing and acceptable to God? Are the things you are trying to attain temporal or eternal? How much are you willing to sacrifice to achieve them? Sure, you may need the overtime at work, but is it separating you from your family? Yes, it feels good to be noticed by someone, but if that someone is not your husband is it pleasing to God? You have a GREAT idea for a business, but are you investing too much of your own money into the project? Does your work at your church detract an unnecessary amount of time from your family? Are you a minister who reflects the Son’s light or are you secretly seeking credit for God’s work? Are any of these things worth losing your family, career, or livelihood for? The choice is obvious to me. What about you? Be Blessed, My Friends. Be an Overcomer!
~Bro. Jason Z. Hunt
“A tomb now suffices him for whom the world was not enough”~The purported epitaph of Alexander the Great
Memory Verse: “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.” ~Phillipians 2:3-4 NIV
Memory Words: 1. Ambition: an earnest desire for some type of achievement or distinction, as power, honor, fame, or wealth, and the willingness to strive for its attainment. 2. Greed: an excessive or rapacious desire, especially for wealth or possessions. 3. Envy: a feeling of discontent or covetousness with regard to anothers advantages, success, or possessions.
Inspiring Music: “Get to Heaven” by Out of Eden,”Chase That” by Lecrae, and “God is Enough” by Lecrae
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