A Different Path to Success

On paper, it was never supposed to end the way that it did.

In a baseball world driven by analytics and an obsession with the long ball, the Milwaukee Brewers scrapped their way to their first World Series title in franchise history by adopting a philosophy that ran counter to modern thinking.

While most teams have discarded “small ball” tactics such as bunting, opposite-field hitting, and station-to-station baseball as outdated relics, the Brewers embraced an old-school style of play to dominate both the regular season and the playoffs. 

Milwaukee ranked first in the league in ground balls hit, balls hit to the opposite field, and bunts, while ranking last in the league in launch angle. Modern conventional wisdom would say that is a recipe for disaster. The Brewers, however, proved that it was a recipe for a championship.

Beyond using a more methodical, contrarian strategy, the Brewers also proved that money isn’t everything when it comes to winning a World Series title.

It has long been pointed out that teams in Major League Baseball with the most money enjoy a significant competitive advantage over teams with much smaller payrolls. Some people have even gone so far as to say that teams in medium or smaller markets have no legitimate chance at winning a World Series.

But once again, the Brewers proved that way of thinking is not entirely correct.

Milwaukee ranked in the bottom half of the league in payroll (19th), making the Brewers only the second team in the past 25 years to win the championship without an above-average payroll (the 2003 Marlins are the other team).

In sports, we routinely get reminded that the way to success often ends up being different than the blueprint that is laid out by the majority.

As followers of Jesus, it is even more important to remember that the way to true biblical success almost always looks very different from the pathway the world says will lead to success.

The world regularly tells us that true happiness and contentment come from earning more money, gaining greater prestige, acquiring more possessions, or achieving loftier accomplishments.

But the Bible shows that the secret to finding joy and lasting peace in this life is very different from the blueprint the world presents. 

Ecclesiastes 5:10 (ESV) says, “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.”  

Many wealthy people don't slow down to "enjoy life" once they fill their bank accounts. Even though they may have achieved great financial success in this world, they were never created to be satisfied by money, so they keep chasing a level of financial satisfaction that constantly eludes them.

As believers, we find life satisfaction not by achieving the world's definition of success, but by delighting ourselves in the Lord and walking in daily fellowship with Him.

Psalm 16:11 (NASB) says, “You will make known to me the way of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.”

Psalm 17:15 (NLT) reminds us that our ultimate satisfaction will come when we are in the Lord’s presence in eternity: “Because I am righteous, I will see You. When I awake, I will see You face to face and be satisfied.”

All of the temporary accomplishments that we can achieve on earth (money, status, power, and possessions) are fleeting and uncertain, and will always leave us longing for more.

However, when we find contentment and satisfaction in Christ alone, we can be confident that we will find lasting peace and joy. 

For believers, that means that rather than focusing our time, energy, and effort on achieving worldly success and “obsessing over the long ball,” we should focus more on pursuing the things of God and the path He has for us.

In Matthew 6:33 (ESV), Jesus even commands us, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Today, let's refocus our energy on seeking the Lord and finding our satisfaction in Him. As we do, we will find a lasting joy and peace the world can never take away.

I’m Matt Osborne, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please forgive me for the times when I have sinfully looked for other things to satisfy me. I know that You alone bring the joy and delight that I desire. Please help me to abide in You and to seek You above all else. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.