We Must Resist the American Dream

“Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.” —Isaiah 55:2 

When I was seven, my non-Christian parents sent me to America to achieve the American Dream. They longed for a better future for me, but God had a different plan—to show me the vanity of worldly success and reveal to me a greater dream. 

What is the American Dream?

The term “American Dream,” coined by James Truslow Adams in his 1931 book Epic of America, refers to the belief that anyone—regardless of birthplace or social class—can achieve success through opportunity and hard work. While the United States offers unique advantages in making this dream attainable, in my pursuit of it, God’s grace and mercy taught me important lessons on why I must resist it. 

An Impossible Pursuit

Farhat Popal, in “Surviving or Thriving? What It Takes for Immigrants to Succeed,” explains, “The American dream is alive for immigrants, but the obstacles can feel nearly insurmountable.” This was true for me.

During the mid-90s Korean economic crash, my father lost his job and suffered a stroke, leaving my family in a dire financial situation. This led to losing contact with them as they shielded me from their struggles. As a result, my teenage years were marked by feelings of neglect, abandonment, and loneliness. I was overwhelmed with the pressure to succeed academically. 

Despite excelling in school and extracurriculars, financial restrictions created significant barriers. My world came to a standstill when I learned I was ineligible for most scholarships or financial aid due to my visa status, making university admission seem nearly impossible. Despite my hard work, I was halted by overwhelming obstacles I could not overcome. 

I often wonder if my parents’ desire for me to achieve the American Dream was worth the suffering and the broken family relationships that took years to heal and are still strained. I am certain my experience is common among those who make success, wealth, and achievement their ultimate goals. For others who have faced similar obstacles, how much is the American Dream truly worth? At what point does the pursuit become insufferable? 

A Vain Pursuit

These circumstances led me to examine my purpose and aspirations, particularly my faith in God. Ecclesiastes 2:22–23 reminded me, “What has a man from all the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun? For all his days are full of sorrows, and his work is a vexation. Even in the night, his heart does not rest. This is also vanity.” 

Ecclesiastes 1:14 further taught me, “I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.” My dreams were meaningless if not aligned with God’s will. Through the Word, prayer, and godly counsel, I realized that my life belongs to Christ. Only Christ can satisfy the emptiness of my soul. 

We must resist the American Dream because the American Dream can become an idol—a pursuit that replaces our dependence on God with a reliance on our own efforts. This idolatry promises fulfillment but leaves us empty, as only God can satisfy our deepest needs. 

A More Glorious Pursuit

Despite obstacles, the Lord miraculously provided, transforming my desires from pursuing the American Dream to a calling in pastoral ministry. The journey wasn’t easy; my parents opposed my ministry pursuit, threatening to disown me. Yet, God opened doors for me to attend university and pursue graduate degrees, leading to a debt-free education and a blessed ministry journey.

Through various trials, including joblessness, homelessness, my wife’s miscarriage, and losing my father to cancer, the Lord humbled and sanctified me, teaching me, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). I testify with Psalm 107:30, “They rejoiced when the waves grew quiet. Then he guided them to the harbor they longed for.” 

The American Dream Redeemed

After purchasing our first home, my wife asked, “How does it feel to achieve the American Dream?” I laughed, but felt a deep ache—“Is this really the dream?” Maintaining the lawn became a burdensome task, and I came to understand the saying, “The grass is always greener on the other side.” There will always be more to this American Dream; when will one ever achieve it? 

Friends, the American Dream is impossible and unsatisfying. Redeem your American Dream in Christ, who offers a lasting and greater hope. As Hebrews 11:16 says, let us, “desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one…” 

Examine your life: Are you striving for the temporary rewards of the American Dream, or seeking the eternal treasures found in Christ? Let us commit daily to pursuing God’s Kingdom first, trusting that He will provide all we truly need.