Read Ecclesiastes 9:11 

Whenever I scope out the scene here where I live, I observe a large number of people who are pursuing the so-called successful life. 

They would say the way to make it in this world—the way to succeed—is to increase speed, get stronger, be competitive, think more cleverly, plan longer, and have a visionary strategy—hire people with the skills that are needed and life will be successful. 

The race is on. 

Get up earlier. Go to bed later. Make work a top priority. Don't get sentimental about stuff like children, marriage, home, and the family. All that will have to wait.

And religion? Leave that for the over-the-hill gang and preachers.

The philosophy of our day will attempt to suck us in and convince us that if we're going to make it, we've got to run faster.... We've got to be stronger and more competitive and more clever, even more manipulative. Otherwise, we won't be successful.

Don't you believe it!

Excerpted from Charles R. Swindoll, Wisdom for the Way (Nashville: J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2001). Copyright © 2001 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.