Bible, Faith, Hope, Grief

How to Know If You’re Chasing the Wrong Thing

You’re doing all the right things—working hard, pushing forward, chasing success. But deep down, it still doesn’t feel like enough. The more you achieve, the more empty it feels. In this message, we explore the difference between godly ambition and the kind that leaves you burnt out, anxious, and always striving. You’ll learn how to recognize when your ambition is off-track, what it looks like to surrender your goals to God, and how to finally find peace in your purpose.

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MESSAGE NOTES

FIGHTING SHADOWS

Ambition

Big Idea: Ambition isn’t bad by itself; it’s aimless ambition that becomes a threat to us. When ambition is disconnected from God’s plan, it leads to self-glory, frustration, emptiness and discontentment.

Key Points:

Ambition that Builds MY Legacy (Saul)

[1 Samuel 15:12] “Early the next morning Samuel went to find Saul. Someone told him, ‘Saul went to the town of Carmel to set up a monument to himself; then he went to Gilgal.'”

  • While God is grieving Saul’s disobedience, Saul is celebrating himself.
  • Saul had it all: physical ability, influence, wealth, power, and recognition but it wasn’t enough. He needed more.
  • His inner life was dominated by insecurity, fear and the need for approval from others.
  • His problem wasn’t his assets, it was that he never bothered to ask God what to do with those assets.

“He thought all God had done for him was FOR him.”

Ambition that Builds God’s Name (David)

[2 Samuel 7:18-20] “Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and prayed, ‘Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And now, Sovereign Lord, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving your servant a lasting dynasty! Do you deal with everyone this way, O Sovereign Lord? What more can I say to you? You know what your servant is really like, Sovereign Lord.'”

  • David’s greatness wasn’t measured by what he built but by what he was willing to surrender.
  • David’s ambition was holy because it was tied to God’s glory, not his own.

[1 Corinthians 10:31] “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

“Eat or drink, or get a PhD, or start a business, or buy investment properties, or own stocks, or gain influence, or become wealthy, or go through bankruptcy… DO IT ALL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD.”

Ambition Must Find its Purpose and Rhythm

  • The question isn’t “Do you HAVE ambition?” The question is “Who, or what, is SHAPING your ambition?”
  • That’s the danger. Not that we have ambition but that we never pause to ask God what our ambition is FOR.

[Psalm 40:1] “I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.”

“Ambition isn’t the problem. The problem is that we want to play God more than we want to be godly.” – Tim Keller

  • Be ambitious, yes. But have godly ambition that isn’t just trying to get/do/be more but is doing it intentionally because you know how this fits into God’s mission.

Sabbath: The Ultimate Test of Surrendered Ambition

[Luke 5:16] “But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.”

  • One of the clearest signs that you have healthy ambition that is surrendered to God is that you regularly pause (sabbath).
  • If Jesus needed to step away to stay aligned with the will of God the Father, why do we think we can run forever and not wreck our lives?

Sabbath breaks our addiction to success:

  • It reminds us where our success comes from
  • It gives us a chance to clarify our calling and purpose
  • It teaches us that rest is not quitting, it’s trusting
  • It puts our eyes back on Jesus

[Hebrews 12:1b-2a] “Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus…”

“Sabbath keeping honors the soul’s need for rest, the body’s need for replenishment, and the spirit’s need to delight in God for who he is, not just what he does for us.” – Ruth Haley Barton

Next Steps:

Ask Yourself:

  • Does your ambition remind you of Saul: fearful, self-promoting, controlling and obsessed with image?
  • Does it remind you of David: humble, surrendered, measured, and God-glorifying?
  • What are you currently chasing so hard?

Take Action:

  • Reflect: What are you currently chasing so hard?
  • Pray: “God, make this about your Kingdom, or take it away from me.”
  • Surrender: Apologize to someone you’ve hurt/used, leverage influence for someone else, prioritize mission in your budget, start each day with God
  • Sabbath: Don’t just attend church, realign your ambition, weekly, with God’s purpose in the world

“I’m not asking you to dream smaller. I’m asking you to ask God if your life might not make a bigger difference in the world if it was spent on more than just yourself.”

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Application Questions

  1. What stood out to you from this message and why?
  2. What is one thing God is telling you to START doing because of this message?
  3. What is one thing God is telling you to STOP doing because of this message?
  4. How will this message change how you act at home, at work, and in your relationships?

You’re doing all the right things—working hard, pushing forward, chasing success. But deep down, it still doesn’t feel like enough. The more you achieve, the more empty it feels. In this message, we explore the difference between godly ambition and the kind that leaves you burnt out, anxious, and always striving. You’ll learn how to recognize when your ambition is off-track, what it looks like to surrender your goals to God, and how to finally find peace in your purpose.

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