THE DANGERS OF INORDINATE AMBITIONS
NOVEMBER 19, 2024
TEXT: 2 Samuel 15:3-4
“Absalom said, ‘Oh, that I were made judge in the land, that every man who has any suit or cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!'”
To be ambitious means having a purpose, aim, or intention. It is the desire to fulfill a certain task or attain a specific height in a given field of endeavor. There is no denying the fact that every human being is expected to have certain ambitions and desires. However, there is a need to tailor our respective ambitions to fall within the ambit of God’s will. This was exactly what Absalom failed to do.
Absalom’s Dangerous Ambition
A comprehensive reading of our entire text reveals that Absalom took the dangerous and irresponsible step of usurping his father as king of Israel, even when the latter was not sick or dead. He cared little about what God would say or do. To achieve his evil ambition, he:
- Convinced his father’s wisest counselor, Ahithophel the Gilonite, to be his special adviser in a joint conspiratory move against David.
- He publicly defiled his father’s concubines on the roof of the palace.
- He eradicated almost everything associated with David, forcing his father to flee from Jerusalem with his team and officials.
Unfortunately for him, he eventually met his downfall as he was killed by Joab, the rugged and uncompromising army captain under David (2 Samuel 18).
The Risks and Dangers of Unchecked Ambitions
The above summary of the incident tells us about the risks and dangers of uncontrolled desires to actualize a particular dream.
Attributes of Unchecked Ambitions
- It can lead to self-promotion. A person ultimately pushes themselves up the ladder despite seemingly lacking qualification.
- Unchecked ambitions can lead to manipulation.
- Unchecked ambitions can also trigger disloyalty and unfaithfulness.
To be Continued Tomorrow
SEARCHLIGHT: As important as it is to be ambitious, any unchecked ambition ultimately leads to a destructive end.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, may I not run ahead of you in the journey of life, in Jesus’ mighty name.
BIBLE READING: Nahum 2, 3, Habakkuk 1, Luke 3
PST. MICHAEL OMOLE
