"Seekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them not."
Jeremiah 45:5

Have you ever heard, "Hitch your wagon to a star?" Ambition has its place in life, but ambition is like a two-edged sword. It can become dangerous, both to him who is ambitious and to others against whom his ambitious plans may be directed.
 
The deplorable fact is that most ambition is sinfully selfish. It leaves out  the reckoning will of God for one's own life and the proper consideration for the welfare of the neighbor.
 
The prohibition lies in the words "for thyself." It is the element of selfishness that is here condemned. Selfishness is one of the most prolific and at the same time most corroding sins in the human heart. We must continually be on guard against it. The best antidote against seeking . . .

"Seekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them not."
Jeremiah 45:5

Have you ever heard, "Hitch your wagon to a star?" Ambition has its place in life, but ambition is like a two-edged sword. It can become dangerous, both to him who is ambitious and to others against whom his ambitious plans may be directed.
 
The deplorable fact is that most ambition is sinfully selfish. It leaves out  the reckoning will of God for one's own life and the proper consideration for the welfare of the neighbor.
 
The prohibition lies in the words "for thyself." It is the element of selfishness that is here condemned. Selfishness is one of the most prolific and at the same time most corroding sins in the human heart. We must continually be on guard against it. The best antidote against seeking great things, such as honor and wealth, for ourselves is to seek the greater and the higher things pertaining to the Kingdom of  God.
 
Christian friends, "Set your affections on things above and not on things on the earth." And "Look not every man on his own things, but also on the things of others." Only then can we find rest from the restless striving of selfish ambition.
 
      True greatness does not come to those
      Who strive for worldly fame;
      It comes instead to those who choose
      To serve in Jesus' name.
 
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - There's no limit to the good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit.