Chasing Our Ambitions… Hello Hump Day readers. What do you think about the word ‘ambition’? Are you ambitious, chasing ambitions that you think will help your life? Sometimes being ambitious can not only break your heart, but it also hurts your soul. Let’s dive into this ‘ambition’ word and see what God wants us to do with our ambitions…here we go!

Yesterday a young couple had a reservation at the campground. They have been there often and were glad we were back for another season. Of course, they had to share what has happened in the last 6 months and thankfully I didn’t ask “when is the baby coming” because I didn’t see a pregnant mama. He told me they lost the baby but it probably was for the best. Now we can go forward in getting our new studio ready (they are photographers). His wife’s face told me her tearful loss, while he was happily talking about the studio! And all I could think of aftr they went down to their campsite was a word that can be good or not so good—ambitions—and I believe those ambitions from that young man will not be good.

There is nothing wrong with having ambitions—until those ambitions come after you and you find yourself in a deep hole or a bad place, etc. Remember the story of Ebenezer Scrooge? He was confronted one night by the ghost of his crooked business partner, Jacob, and was warned to mend his ways. Scrooge cried out “Jacob you were always a good man of business, what happened to you?” That’s when the ghost said “Business! Man-kind was my business… charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence were, all, my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!” Scrooge just couldn’t stop ambitions that had taken over him; he was mad and crabby to everyone.

In 1 Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul warns us about ambitions, saying: “Next, as regards brotherly love, you don’t need any written instructions. God himself is teaching you to love each other, and you are already extending your love to all the Macedonians. Yet we urge you to have more and more of this love, and to make it your ambition to have no ambition!” [J.B. Phillips New Testament]

The fact is, our lives are meant for so much more than chasing our own ambitions. And a life dedicated to making yourself happy will only make you miserable, step in line with Scrooge! But a life lived for God and the good of those God puts in your path will change everything for you. It will bless your heart in a thousand different ways.

Your true business in this life is to be about God’s business. So, make today about serving God’s kingdom and not yourself. After all, that is what you were created in Christ Jesus to do! Take a moment and think about this: What are some things in your life that may be taking priority over the Lord? Are you ambitions snuffing out the joy God wants for you?

Ask God to show you ways you can serve today. Pray that your eyes, ears, and heart will be open to the needs of those around you. Make time in your day so you can be open to opportunities God puts in your path. Dump your own ambitions and let the ambitions God has for you. It will be life-changing for you, your family and your friends. Like Paul said above, “urge yourself to have more of God’s love instead of your own ambitions! AMEN.