Take the Lead - 3

I think a lot of people start off with high expectations and great ambition. They want to do something great, be someone great. But they soon bump into some resistance and their aspiration gets smothered and covered up. Here’s my list of top aspiration chokers:

1. Fear

This is maybe the #1 reason.

Fear of failure, fear of what people will think of them, fear of change. I heard Rick Warren say one time there are 365 “fear not” statements in the Bible. One for every day of the year. I’ve never checked it out, but I believe it.

What are you afraid of? What is smothering the Godly ambition inside of you?

2. Unhealthy friendships

I’ve seen it happen so many times. Someone starts getting things right in life, starts applying the Word and growing, and then along comes an insecure “friend” who gets a little threatened by their friend’s health and growth, so they start pulling them back down. I’ve heard people call it the “crab bucket effect” because supposedly, if you put a bunch of crabs in a bucket, there’s no need to put a lid on it because just as soon as a crab gets close to climbing out, along comes a friend who pulls him back down.

3. Indifference

Proverbs 1:32 – …Fools are destroyed by their own complacency.

Indifference is destructive. It destroys ambition, dreams, churches.

Jesus said in the end the love of many will grow cold (Matthew 24:12). This is indifference. Better to hate than to be indifferent.

4. Sin

I like to define sin as anything less than God’s best. We could type out a list of “sins” but most people know what those are. For you and me, the really sinister sins are the ones that keep us from going all the way for God.

James 4:7 – Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.

5. Distractions

Mark 4:18-19 - The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.

Every day there are dozens of voices and messages vying for our attention. It’s impossible to stay focused and aspire to something, when we’re pursuing everything.

What is the most common aspiration choker in your life? Maybe it’s not on this list, but its real in your life. Share your thoughts because it might help someone else…