Ambition, and temptations that come with it?

[Stuart]

So I'm an 19 year old christian guy. I've grown up in a christian home and love God. Last year i finished my a levels and will be starting uni in September after taking a missional gap year. Another huge passion in my life is cars and motorbikes, so I've enrolled ob the course which I've always wanted to do which is mechanical and automotive engineering. I have no doubts that this is the course i should be on. I can think of no better course, and whenever i try and imagine myself in 5+ years time, post university, its normally as an engineer working with cars.
Now comes the bit I've been struggling with. I've never grown up with a huge amount of money but i accept that giving generously is to love God. And i know there are more forms of giving than just financial. But I'm pretty ambitious with university and would love nothing more than to become a top engineer when I graduate. Unless i end up going overseas again, there's nothing else i can imagine in my future that i would strive towards. Top engineers generally have hefty pay packets to go with them. So i have one half of me that grew up with little money saying "go for it. Earn loads. But the car and house of your dreams and be successful". And the other part reminds me that as a christian i should be generous in my giving. I don't know if i could withstand the temptation though. And on the way to becoming an engineer I'm going to end up with £45k debts before i even start working.

So ultimately i would love to know the christian answer to this: If I don't let money become an object of desire, and allow God control over my life wherever he make take me, overseas or at home, then becoming an engineer doesn't seem like the right choice of things to strive towards. The money seems to come hand in hand with success. And if I'm not after the money then I'm nor going to be chasing success. And if I'm not going to be chasing success then why am i about to pay 45k to put myself through uni.
I'm confused, a little lost and starting to doubt my previous plans which were all but written in stone to me. Especially since my gap year. What the christian view of chasing your dream?
please someone try and put my mind at ease cos I just don't know anymore...

 

[Blazin Bones]

Are these plans bathed in prayer?

if you have the mind and the skills to be an engineer, then by all means God would be the one who has made you the way you are. You do not have to be the typical engineer anymore than Paul was the typical scholar. Proverbs 3:5-6 says simply to trust the Lord and lean not on your own understanding. Acknowledge the Lord, and He will make your paths straight. Nowhere does it say he will not guide you to university and becoming an engineer. Just acknowledge him along the way and enjoy what the Lord gives you.

However, if you do hit it big, I'll hit you up for a decent lunch sometime. ;)

 

[DarkWalker]

The money is irrelevant if you are pursuing what God would have you do. My ambition is to be a successful businessman and author, so that I might be a philanthropist for worthy causes. I would say follow God. If He wants you to earn loads, fantastic! Then follow His lead on your stewardship. If He wants you dirt poor, fantastic! Then follow His lead on your stewardship.

 

[Kidron]

God gives you dreams to chase.
He gives you talents to use.
He gives you the Holy Spirit to empower you and to enable you.
The only thing is....you have to be careful that the life you chose to pursue isnt really just meaningless.
In other words, if the end result of 20 years of chasing a dream is to only put yourself in a $$$$$ position to buy stuff or to have stuff, then ..................
So, you take it from there.

 

[Abigail123]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with having a passion and it sounds like you are fortunate enough to have one and know what it is you want. Many students your age do not.

Especially your generation, you need to get a higher education! If you end up being an engineer, you will be able to pay that loan off. Your education will open many doors for you that you had no idea were there.

It just so happens that an engineer makes quit a bit of money, this could be your opportunity to help others in need, or design something for those in need, at this point you have no idea where God will take you with your education.

My son is doing exactly what you are doing, in school for mechanical engineering, he also loves the Lord, too and he loves to work on cars.

Stay in prayer and until God makes it obvious to you, stay the course you are on, you won't regret it.

I will be praying for you.