I used to be told that you can't sit down idly, praying till the mountains move and expect food to drop in your front, my dear, you've got to work for it. The Bible says work and pray and faith doesn't work when there's no action. One just needs to be strategic and a great planner even while still praying to God for blessings, then everything will connect.
That statement that you can only succeed when you serve God dedicatedly. It's just that many people misunderstood this a lot while some preachers won't even go into details to clear their mind and doubt. Serving God isn't confined to the house of God (church) alone, it transcends beyond that. Even while doing your job, you do it dedicatedly and you will succeed.
The phrase is just making it known that one can never succeed if you don't put in the work and effort. Also, serving God wherever you may be must be done truthfully, in all honesty and in holiness, only by then would God bless the works of your hand.
My dear Princess, first let me start by apologising for not replying until now. i am sorry.
All you have noted here is true. You can't expect God to bless what doesn't exist or bless your lack of effort. I feel that is just an excuse for human beings to not work. Which is very sad. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment.