The Shocking Story That Reveals Everything Wrong with Worldly Success
Picture this: A photojournalist witnesses a starving child lying face-down in the dirt, a vulture lurking nearby. He snaps the photo, shoos away the vulture, and walks away. That photo wins him the Pulitzer Prize – the pinnacle of journalistic success. Three months later, he takes his own life.
Kevin Carter's tragic story perfectly illustrates the devastating emptiness of worldly achievement without Christ. His professional success meant nothing when faced with life's deeper pain and purposelessness.
Why Independence from God Leads to Failure
We live in a culture obsessed with independence. "You don't need anyone!" "Be your own boss!" "Live your truth!" But this very mindset reveals why independence from God leads to failure in the deepest sense.
The Bible presents a radically different picture in 1 Corinthians 11:11: "Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord."
This isn't just about marriage – it's about recognizing that true success comes through dependence on God and proper relationships with others, not through proud independence.
The Fatal Flaw in Modern Thinking
The Independence Lie
Our culture teaches:
Men: "You don't need to respect women"
Women: "You don't need men – be completely independent"
Everyone: "You can do it all on your own"
But Scripture reveals this thinking leads to destruction. When we try to live independently of God's design, we end up like that photojournalist – achieving worldly recognition while dying inside.
What the Bible Actually Says About Success
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" (1 John 5:4-5)
Real success isn't measured by:
Bank account balance
Career achievements
Social media followers
Personal independence
Biblical success means being "in the Lord" – living according to God's design and purpose.
What True Success Looks Like
You Can't Fail When You're in the Lord
Here's a revolutionary truth: "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17).
When you're in Christ:
You can fail at projects, but you can't ultimately fail
You might face temporal setbacks, but you have eternal victory
The world might call you unsuccessful, but you have God's approval
Equal Standing, Different Roles
The Bible teaches that in Christ, we're all equally:
Redeemed and justified
Free from condemnation
Eternally secure
New creatures
Part of one body
Yet God has established distinct roles and relationships. This isn't about superiority or inferiority – it's about divine order that brings blessing when followed.
The Heart Issue Behind the Rebellion
The real problem isn't external circumstances – it's heart rebellion against God's authority. When we demand independence from God:
Marriages fall apart
Children rebel against parents
Churches split over trivial issues
Society crumbles
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10).
How to Find Real Success
1. Stop Seeking Independence from God
The brevity of life should motivate us toward dependence on Christ. As Job 14:1 reminds us, man "is of few days, and full of trouble."
You're not guaranteed tomorrow. What are you going to do with your life? Live for self-glorification or serve God?
2. Embrace Your God-Given Role
Whether you're:
A husband called to love sacrificially
A wife called to be a helper
A parent called to train children
A church member called to complement ministry
Find your role in God's design and embrace it fully.
3. Remember: "All Things of God"
"But all things of God" (1 Corinthians 11:12). When success comes, when people applaud, when recognition arrives – remember it's all from God.
The heart of man loves recognition and applause, but true success means giving God the glory. Whether you're playing sports, performing music, or achieving in business – is it of God or of you?
4. Offer More Than Just "Shooing Away Vultures"
Like Kevin Carter, many people offer only temporary solutions to life's problems. They help people avoid consequences but provide no real hope.
As Christians, we can't just offer:
Self-help programs
Temporary moral improvements
Surface-level behavioral changes
We must offer Christ – the only source of true peace, joy, and victory.
The Choice Before You
You have two paths:
Path 1: Worldly Independence
Achieve recognition and applause
Win prizes and accolades
Live for self-glorification
End up empty and hopeless
Path 2: Biblical Dependence
Find your identity in Christ
Live according to God's design
Experience true peace and joy
Have eternal victory
"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Timothy 3:12). The Christian life isn't easy, but it's victorious.
You can have the same peace as any other Christian. In a world full of fighting, arguing, war, and famine, you can have peace because you're in Christ.
Your Life Is Brief – Choose Wisely
"Man that is born of a woman is of few days" (Job 14:1). Life is short. What are you going to do with yours?
Young people, serve God in your youth. Don't wait until you're older to live for Christ. When you look back at 50, 60, or 70, you want memories of serving God, not wasted years of selfish independence.
The world's only hope is Christ. Not programs, not self-improvement, not human achievement – but Jesus Christ.
"To us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him" (1 Corinthians 8:6).
This distinction isn't about us – it's about the Lord. It's about living our lives in the Lord, finding our success in His design, not in proud independence.
🎧 📖 Want to Experience the Full Power of This Message?
This blog post only scratches the surface of this powerful expository preaching on 1 Corinthians 11. For the complete verse-by-verse Bible teaching that dives deeper into biblical success, God's design for relationships, and finding true victory in Christ, we humbly encourage you to listen to the entire sermon.
[Listen to the Full Message Here →]
Experience the full impact of this life-changing expository preaching that could transform how you view success, relationships, and your purpose in life.