There is a saying: “Be careful for what you wish for.” The song “Unanswered Prayers” by Garth Brooks captures this perfectly—a man looking back, grateful God didn’t give him what he once desperately wanted.
But how many of us are still there…
Praying for what we want without asking if it’s what we need or better yet, what aligns with His will?
Scripture warns us clearly:
In my experience, the truly blessed aren’t those who find success first, it is those who find God first—and let Him define their success. There can be no greater success than to become the being God created you to be!
Lee learned this the hard way. He left his mid-west hometown, drawn by the promise of greener pastures in California. A successful friend offered training, connections, even a place to stay. It sounded like a door opening. But it wasn’t. It was an illusion.
Months later, Lee found himself broke, misled, and scrambling just to survive. The “success” he chased was empty—built on false promises from a person whose lifestyle was driven by pleasure, not purpose.
But here’s what became clear:
God didn’t abandon Lee—
He protected him.
“There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” — Proverbs 14:12
What looked like failure… was actually mercy. God gave Lee the discernment to see his friend’s worldly ways and to avoid becoming entrapped in them—someone successful by the world’s standards, yet completely disconnected from God.
This isn’t just Lee’s story. We see it everywhere in entertainment, business and politics. American politics has become rife with sexual misconduct and corruption. The House of Representatives has become a House of ill Repute. While single resignations due to scandal are relatively common in Congressional history, having three members of the House resign under threat of expulsion in a single week is unprecedented in the last 165 years. But should we be surprised knowing Congress created the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (CAA) to use the American tax payers money as a “hush fund” to protect their indiscretions? Over $18 million in taxpayer funds was paid out to settle 291 cases of workplace disputes—including sexual harassment, discrimination, and retaliation—between 1997 and 2019.
People rise to power, wealth, and influence—
yet crumble under the weight of their own emptiness.
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” — 1 Timothy 6:10
Worldly success without God doesn’t satisfy—it corrupts.
It shifts our focus from truth to affirmation,
from conviction to comfort.
And eventually… it blinds.
The lie the world tells is simple:
You must choose—God or success.
But that’s not true! God never said success was the problem.
He said priority is the problem.
“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” — Matthew 6:33
There are those who got the priority right.
Tim Tebow didn’t discover God after success—he brought God into his success. He was born oversees to Christian parents doing missionary work. God has always come first throughout Tim’s life including when he was awarded the Heisman Trophy (the first college sophomore to do so), played for numerous professional football teams, and started the Tim Tebow Foundation fighting for the most vulnerable children in the world.
Scotty Scheffler is the top rated golfer in the PGA but that’s not how he identifies himself. He identifies himself as a child of God. He does not play golf for personal fame but rather to glorify God. There is a saying, when God gives you a gift you thank Him by how you use that gift.
The late Charlie Kirk believed and received Jesus’ work on the cross. He was a man of God who enjoyed the gifts of the Holy Spirit and used them to do God’s will. Charlie was remarkably well-read; he absorbed information at lightning speed, communicated it with unflinching truth, and did so at the highest level. Despite his extraordinary talent at such a young age, he remained
humble and always credited God for his achievements.
What separates these 3 men
from the “followers” of this world?
- Not talent.
- Not opportunity.
Yes, Faith!
For every child of God defeats this evil world,
and we achieve this victory through our faith.— 1 John 5:4
It’s not complicated:
- Right belief → Trust in Christ
- New birth → A transformed life
- True success → Victory over the world
Not by willpower and certainly not by discipline alone. But by a life anchored in God!
Here’s the truth most people don’t
realize until it’s too late:
Success without God isn’t success—it’s a setup.
- A setup for emptiness.
- A setup for pride.
- A setup for a life that looks full on the outside
but is hollow at its core.
But when you start with God
—everything changes.
Success no longer defines you.
It becomes something you steward.
Because at the end of the day, the goal isn’t to climb higher than everyone else…
It’s to walk faithfully with the One who gave you life.
“What good is it to gain the whole world… and lose your soul?”
The better question is this:
What could your life look like if you gained God first—
and let Him define everything that followed?
If you’ve been pursuing the world first,
it’s not too late to turn.
- Turn your heart back to God.
- Lay down the pursuit of empty success.
- Receive the life He offers through Jesus Christ.
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me
will never walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life.” — John 8:12
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