We cannot seek the things of the world and seek God at the same time. Our desires should be unto God. He will prosper us according to our righteous efforts. We do know right from wrong—there need be no debate about separating the things of the world and things of God. President Marion G. Romney elucidated this principle as follows:
Now there are individuals who try to serve the Lord without offending the devil. They raise in the minds of many truth seekers the vexing question, is there not some middle ground upon which peace may be secured and maintained? Must the choice lie irrevocably between peace on the one hand, obtained by compliance with the gospel of Jesus Christ, and contention and war on the other hand?
In answer to this question, I feel safe in saying that if there is a middle ground it is as yet undiscovered; and that, too, notwithstanding the fact that the search for it has been long and tortuous… .
If we would have peace, brothers and sisters, we must make up our minds to pay the price of peace. Such is the word of God, and such is the verdict of six thousand years of human history. (“The Price of Peace,” Ensign, Oct. 1983, 3ff)