Caring for Yourself While Serving God and OthersSample

Reckless Ambition

In our desire to serve others and do good, it’s easy to be swept away by reckless ambition.

Unbridled ambition is like a drug. It promises happiness and fulfillment until you discover how meaningless fame and fortune are without a God-given purpose.

And if you’re not tempted by money and power, realize that it can be just as easy to get swept away by the ambition to serve others and the Lord with excellence. Sometimes, the God-honoring outcomes we chase exact a price He never asked us to pay.

Yes, the path of obedience often requires sacrifice … but the uncomfortable truth is that selflessness in the extreme — to the detriment of physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual health — is usually rooted in pride.

Steering clear of reckless ambition requires humility, a willingness to let God lead, and an openness to His correction and guidance. It requires vulnerability and trust.

When we align our heart and mission with God’s will and invite Him to direct our path, our efforts become more fruitful, and miraculously, our stress diminishes.

We must humbly trade our reckless ambition for the yoke Jesus graciously extends to us in Matthew 11.

Application

• List the things you believe you’ve been sacrificing for the Lord. Then, ask yourself the following questions:
  • What do I want to do?
  • What is my motivation?
  • What is God asking me to do?
  • What effect will my decision have on my life and others?
• Pray over the list and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any sacrifices that have been self-imposed rather than a humble response to God’s leading.
• If there are any sacrifices you’ve been making out of selfish ambition, ask for forgiveness and for the Lord to help you remain humble. Thank Jesus for making the ultimate sacrifice on the cross.