Wake Up, Look Up

Hello, everyone.
Thanks for listening to Wake Up, Look Up, a podcast where we connect events happening in real time to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I'm Zach Weihrauch.

And in today's episode, we're talking about quiet success, and we’re asking the question: how do we get the good life?
This is prompted by an article I read in The Wall Street Journal about how younger Americans are redefining success—or at least defining it differently than previous generations.

Americans ages 18 to 34 are, in a pretty widespread way, trading monetary success or career advancement for things like mental health, family time, and emotional well-being.
In fact, in a recent survey, physical and mental health was rated as the number one definition of success among that generation.
Wealth—once a primary motivator for work—came in fifth.

That’s a stark contrast.
There are four things this generation values more than money, and health is first.

Social media is full of influencers pushing a holistic life: get to work late, leave early, have hobbies, be healthy.
So while the “good life” used to mean fast-moving cities, work, and money, now it’s about what you do with your time away from work.

Which leads us to ask: is that a good change?
Does a shift from overwork and chasing wealth to a more balanced life reflect biblical values?

The answer is a little bit yes and no.

This generation is tapping into something the Bible has always said: chasing wealth is dangerous.
Jesus warned in Matthew 16: what good is it for a man to gain the whole world but lose his soul?
He also said in Matthew 6, you can’t love both God and money.

So whatever the good life is, it’s not about chasing money.
And believe it or not, self-care is something the Bible encourages.
Proverbs 17:22 says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine.”
It matters that you're happy and healthy—and that’s part of wisdom.

Wisdom isn’t always working more or making more.
Sometimes it’s stopping work to find joy and health apart from it.

Don’t forget—God was way ahead of culture when He established the Sabbath in the Pentateuch.
It was a declaration that everything comes from Him—and a rhythm of rest reminding us we are more than worker bees.

But—there’s reason to be cautious.
Just like a life of chasing wealth won’t fulfill you, neither will a life solely focused on balance and well-being.

Proverbs 14 says there’s a way that seems right to man, but it ends in death.
For some, that’s the chase of money or success.
For others, it’s pulling back and living the “balanced life.”
Either way, our definitions of the good life fall short.

The true good life only comes from surrender to Jesus.
He says in John 10:10, “I have come so that you might have life, and have it more abundantly.”

Jesus wants to give us the good life.
The difference is—He knows how to get there.
He designed us. He made us. He knows our purpose and has an eternal perspective.

Surrendering to Him will sometimes challenge our view of the good life.
It means zigging where we might have zagged.
But when we trust Jesus, He will challenge our workaholism, our love of money—and even our over-prioritization of personal health over loving others.

Each generation critiques the last.
You may reject your parents’ version of success.
But your kids will likely critique yours.

The only way to escape that cycle is to follow someone who has no weaknesses—and that’s Jesus.

You’re not wrong for wanting the good life.
But if you think you know how to get there, you might end up in a bad place.
Give your life to Jesus, surrender to Him, and then you’ll find out what it really means to live.

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Have an article you’d like Zach to discuss? Email us at wakeup@ccchapel.com!