There Is No Gain!

August 21, 2025

There Is No Gain!

A few months ago, I heard a political leader make a promise that concluded with the phrase; “…so that all may experience the American dream.”  From the context of the message, it was clear that the American dream that was being promised was about success; a success mostly defined by money!

Through the history of our country, the American dream has been defined in different ways by different groups of people. 

+During the later part of the 1700’s, political and religious leaders in the 13 colonies may have described the American dream as independence from British oppression.

+During the 1800’s, the African Americans who were enslaved in the South may have described the American dream as freedom. 

+During the 1930’s, the average white male may have described the American dream as possessing a job that would feed his family.

+During the 1950’s, the veterans of World War II may have described the American dream as having a family, building a life, and enjoying world peace.

+During the early 2000’s, people from all different cultural and ethnic backgrounds are describing the American dream as freedom from oppression and poverty so they can make a better life.   

There have been other times when people in our country have chased after an American dream that is nothing more than greed and lust and self-centeredness.  The good news is there are many, many other people who pursue a version of the American dream that is about the ideals of our country; freedom, sacrifice, and hard work as well as peace and joy and love. 

Unfortunately, there are too many who chase after a version of the American dream that does not include much love; there is too little love for God, too little love for other people, too little love for self, and too little love for country. 

The dream after which we chase often becomes the god of success rather than the Lord of life.  Marriages are sacrificed, children as sacrificed, and friends are sacrificed for the god of success.  Emotional well-being, spiritual vitality, intellectual growth, and physical health are sacrificed for the god of wealth.  Dreams are sacrificed, hope is sacrificed, and meaning are sacrificed for the god of more and more and more.

I believe in the American dream.  However, I do not believe in an American dream that diminishes and/or destroys the power of love or disregards the Lordship of Christ.  Freedom without love is not possible.  A good paying job without love has no purpose.  World peace without love is a lie.  Success without love is self-centered.  A strong country without the Son of God is a wreck about to happen.

The American dream is about living a life that makes a difference and leaves a legacy.  The American dream is about creating opportunities for every person to experience peace and joy and love.  The American dream is about chasing God’s dream for my and our life together.  The American dream is about working hard and making sacrifices so all people can experience freedom.

However, there are times when we get distracted from the dream or the dream becomes distorted in some way.  This is nothing new.  In the first century, a church in Corinth found themselves chasing hard after God’s dream for their lives, their families, and their city.  However, they became distracted along the way.  The dream became distorted, people were being hurt, and the dream seemed to become more and more distant.  The church became filled with division, conflict, and arguing.  Finally, the Apostle Paul addresses the Christ-followers in that church.   

In I Corinthians 13:3 the Apostle Paul writes; “If I give away all my possessions and if I hand over my body so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.” 

Paul says I can be extraordinarily generous with my resources.  But, if I do not give with love, my generosity accomplishes nothing.  I can make incredible sacrifices, even laying down my life, for a great cause, for a good person, or even for God.  But, if I do not make those sacrifices in response to my love, my sacrifice accomplishes nothing.

In other words, I can choose today to chase after all kinds of good things, including a proper understanding of the American dream.  But, if I do not have a love for God, a love for other people, and a love for my self, none of it really matters.  It will not make much of a difference, it will not leave a legacy, and it will not give my life purpose.

The church in Corinth lost focus of God’s dream for their lives and for their church.  The result was division, conflict, and arguing.  In their pursuit of a dream, people in the church began to hurt one another.  The Apostle Paul was concerned.  The heart of God was breaking.  The Christ-followers in that place were chasing after a distorted dream.

I pray the American dream is not reduced down to someone’s definition of financial success.  I pray the American dream is not diminished to the point that freedom is for some not all.  I pray the American dream is not about money or power or influence. 

I also pray the American dream is about growing our country into a place where there is an opportunity for peace and love and joy for every person.  I believe this version of the American dream is possible when our spirituality is focused upon the Lord God, when our love for other people is genuine, and when our love of self is God-honoring.

What if the American dream could be re-defined just a bit so that it included a deep faith in Jesus, a deep love for other people, and a deep commitment to peace and joy for every person.  When we catch glimpses of that kind of dream taking shape, our hearts will be filled with delight in the goodness and grace of God.

Take Delight In The Lord!

Doug