Judges 9

Then Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem, to his mother's brothers, and spoke with them and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying, "Please speak in the hearing of all the men of Shechem: 'Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal reign over you, or that one reign over you?' Remember that I am your own flesh and bone." And his mother's brothers spoke all these words concerning him in the hearing of all the men of Shechem; and their heart was inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, "He is our brother." So they gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless men; and they followed him.

(Jdg 9:1-4)

SELFISH AMBITION. Webster defines ambition as “a desire of excellence or superiority… an inordinate desire for power”. When we are ambitious for the Lord, ambitious to accomplish HIS will, HIS plans, and HIS purposes; it can be a beautiful thing. But when SELFISH AMBITION drives a man, it can cause him to do the UGLIEST THINGS. This is the story of Abimelech. Jealous of the positions of prominence held by his half brothers, he is driven to overthrow them… so he starts to sow seeds of dissension. He begins telling people why he would be better, why they should follow him and not others. He does not have the interests of the people of Shechem in mind... all he cares about is himself. His ambition is blind, blind to what it will do to him, and to his countrymen.

He hires worthless and reckless men, and in this we have a startling example of what selfish ambition can do.

WORTHLESS – The word used for worthless here means: empty, vain, having no morals or anything to offer that is of worth. The Lord wants us to have PURPOSE, to live lives of WORSHIP. When we pursue our own selfish desires, we end up surrounded by worthless, empty, vain things. All of our ambition comes up empty, no real satisfaction.

RECKLESS - The word used for reckless here means: bubbling, boiling, and frothing. It was used to denote people who were wild, undisciplined, arrogant, and devoid of any restraint. Like a pot of boiling water they frothed and foamed all over, uncontrolled and dangerous. – This is another thing that comes along with reckless pursuit of your own selfish desires. You arrogantly rush along, ignorant of the danger you are causing your self, ignoring the consequences of your decisions!

How different this is than the way that the Lord wants us to live. He wants us to PURSUE HIM, to SEEK HIS WILL and HIS KINGDOM, to be SOBER MINDED, and to choose HUMILITY rather than pride. Abimelech’s selfish ambition caused him to surround himself with EVIL COMPANIONS. On the contrary, our pursuit of the Lord should cause us to run to HOLY BROTHERS AND SISTERS. Listen to what Paul said to Timothy; “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2Ti 2:22) Rather than Ambition we should all be chasing FAITH, LOVE, PEACE, and RIGTHEOUSNESS. The companions we should seek during this endeavor are not the reckless and worthless friends of Abimelech… they are those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.