The Deadly Trap of Wanting God's Blessings More Than God Himself

Why Chasing God's Gifts Instead of God Himself Is Destroying Your Faith

Dr. Adam B. Dooley, pastor of Englewood Baptist Church in Jackson, Tennessee, published a powerful warning to believers about the dangers of miscalculating God's blessings. Writing for The Christian Post on February 19, 2026, Dooley argued that Christians who prioritize God's gifts over God Himself are setting themselves up for spiritual disaster.

Dooley opened by reflecting on the blessings in his own life, including his wife, children, and congregation, quoting King David's words from Psalm 16:6:

The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places.

However, the Tennessee pastor stressed a critical spiritual truth that many believers overlook. He wrote that before we can celebrate what we receive from the Lord, we must first appreciate our need to take refuge in the Lord.

The core of his message centers on the deadly trap of misplaced priorities. Dooley cited James 1:17, reminding Christians that every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights. When believers forget this truth, they begin pursuing noble things through dishonorable means.

Dooley pointed to the Garden of Eden as the ultimate example of this spiritual miscalculation. He referenced Genesis 3:6, explaining that Eve chose the forbidden fruit because it appeared good for food, a delight to the eyes, and desirable to make one wise. The first woman fell for the lie that the path to true happiness exists outside of God's directives.

The pastor warned that fulfilling the right aspirations in the wrong way is always a recipe for disaster. Cheating undermines success. Pride corrupts healthy desires. Selfishness taints good deeds.

Dooley concluded that those who find refuge in God possess the security to trust whatever He provides, whenever He provides it, resulting in genuinely pleasant and satisfying lives.

The Danger of Pursuing Blessings Apart From God: What Every Christian Needs to Know

Dr. Dooley, who is also the author of Hope When Life Unravels, emphasized that every temptation woos us to pursue what is noble through dishonorable means. This applies not only to obvious sins but to the subtle ways believers try to manufacture their own blessings rather than waiting on God's timing and provision.

His message serves as a timely reminder that failing to take refuge in the Lord inevitably results in misguided transgressions aimed at personal contentment and gratification.

The Crusader's Opinion

Pastor Dooley hit the nail on the head. We live in a generation of Christians who want God's blessings but not God Himself. They want the comfort, the prosperity, the good life, but they refuse to submit to the One who provides it all. This is the oldest trick in the enemy's playbook. It worked in the Garden of Eden and it is working in churches across America right now. Every heresy, every compromise, every moral failure in the Church can be traced back to this exact miscalculation: pursuing something good through means that dishonor God. Stop chasing the gifts and start chasing the Giver.

Take Action

• Read Psalm 16 and James 1:17 this week and reflect on whether you are pursuing God's gifts above God Himself.
• Share Dr. Adam Dooley's article with your small group or Bible study to spark a conversation about misplaced spiritual priorities.
• Visit Englewood Baptist Church online to listen to more of Dr. Dooley's sermons on trusting God's provision.
• Pick up a copy of Hope When Life Unravels by Dr. Adam B. Dooley for deeper teaching on finding refuge in God during trials.
• Support Christian discipleship and persecuted believers worldwide through The Shepherd's Shield.