Abimelek son of Jerub-Baal went to his mother’s brothers in Shechem and said to them and to all his mother’s clan, “Ask all the citizens of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you: to have all seventy of Jerub-Baal’s sons rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember, I am your flesh and blood.”
When the brothers repeated all this to the citizens of Shechem, they were inclined to follow Abimelek, for they said, “He is related to us.” – Judges 9:1-3.
After Abimelek had governed Israel three years, God stirred up animosity between Abimelek and the citizens of Shechem so that they acted treacherously against Abimelek. – Judges 9:22-23.
For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. – James 3:16.
Ambition – Changing One’s Lifestyle
Hating injustice and greed, Sam Rayburn went to Congress to fight for the rights of the poor and underprivileged. He accepted the challenge of opposing the Interests—railroads and banks. He made many speeches his first six years, attacking the enemies of those he represented.
Then a strange thing happened. The verbal congressman became a silent representative, making very few speeches in the next twelve years. His first speech had been two hours long, but in the next dozen years he said so little people thought him mute—all because of his zeal to be Speaker of the House of Representatives! Since the Speaker was elected on the basis of popularity, not just seniority, Sam needed friends, not enemies. To avoid making enemies, he stopped making speeches. Waiting in silence almost killed him, his sense of justice being so keen. Greater than his need to speak for the underprivileged was his personal need to be Speaker, where he figured to do more for more people.
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD 
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