2 Samuel 14:25-26, "In all Israel, there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the top of his head to the sole of his foot there was no blemish in him. Whenever he cut the hair of his head-he used to cut his hair once a year because it became too heavy for him-he would weigh it, and its weight was two hundred shekels by the royal standard."
James 3:16, "For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind."
Absalom was absolute about Absalom. He was the center of his universe, and everything revolved around him. Simply put, Absalom "loved me some me!" Sadly, such misplaced ambition resulted in his early death. So, the takeaway from his fate is this: when your ambition ends with you, it will end you. Is all ambition wrong? No, but it does come with a caveat. It's harmful when mistakenly placed on the wrong person – us – instead of the right person - God.
Here's the problem with sole self-ambition: You are finite; God is infinite. You are limited; God is limitless. You have unknowing; God is all-knowing. There's only One who's all-powerful, and it's not you! When people, dependent on their eternal Creator for the very breath they breathe, selfishly promote themselves, they forget their rightful position in the cosmos. Remember, God alone runs the show. He's God, and you're not. Never lose sight of this truth.
Absalom glorified himself as we'll continue to discover this week. His ambition ended with him and, therefore, became his end. For a better outcome, seek God, lean on His strength, and follow the path of purpose that He's so lovingly set before you! Our greatest task is to be ambitious for God's glory rather than our own.
Take a moment to consider how often you privately, as well as publicly, acknowledge God's greatness and your dependency upon Him. Is it regularly or rarely? If rarely, it's time to acknowledge God and place your ambition in its proper place.
Lord, Forgive me when I misplace my ambition, when I seek to elevate myself above You. Teach me to invest my life in that which matters most. Please help me to never lose sight of Your glory in everything I do. In Jesus' name, Amen.