There’s no shortage of self-help literature and social media posts teaching us how to live our best life.
The Bible does the same. Although, instead of helping to make the most of us, God’s Word provides us with a roadmap to live our best, God-glorifying life right here, right now.
This God-glorifying “best life” never happens by accident; it is never the path of least resistance. It requires intentionality, and constantly reminding yourself of these Biblical principles:
1. Love God
Jesus gives us a clear definition of “the best life” in Matthew 22:34-39. He tells the Pharisees that the first and greatest commandment is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”
Loving God is the prerequisite for living our best, God-glorifying life. Loving God above all else is the only love that can ever satisfy the hunger in our hearts, and living for God’s glory is the only glory we were designed to be enthralled with.
2. Love Others
In his same discussion with the Pharisees, Jesus tells us that the second greatest command is to “love your neighbor as yourself.” John reminds us that “love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God […] if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” (See 1 John 4:7-21).
If you want the litmus test for living your best, God-glorifying life right here, right now, don’t look primarily at your theological knowledge, biblical literacy, or church involvement (although all of these are very important). Instead, you should examine the quality of your relationships.
3. Pursue Heavenly Treasure
Living your best, God-glorifying life requires an awareness of two things: 1) A sense of what is truly worth living for, and 2) An awareness of how seductive and deceptive the physical pleasures of the created world be can.
Jesus tells us to store up imperishable treasures in heaven, not temporary treasures of this world (see Matthew 6:19-24). Such pleasures are God-given and certainly have their place, but each of us needs to fight a moment-by-moment battle to keep the physical glories of creation in their proper place in our hearts.
4. Focus On Character
The definition of society’s “best life” worships at the altar of achievement and success. We typically evaluate and honor people, not by the attitude and character of their hearts, but by their home, their car, their paycheck, their vacations, or the number of people who answer to them.
The Bible certainly does not denigrate success. To the contrary, it urges us to be excellent in all we do. But at every step, Scripture places moral character above achievement. No better story captures this principle than when God tells Samuel to reject Eliab and choose David as the future king of Israel (see 1 Samuel 16:6-7).
God calls you to live “your best life” right here, right now – but this roadmap looks and sounds radically different to that of culture.
The call is to hold firmly to the truth believed by all the saints who have gone before us: “That he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).
God bless
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- How have you been attempting to pursue your "best life" recently? In what ways has this pursuit neglected or omitted the glory of God?
- Evaluate one or two of your closest relationships. How can love them better this week? How will your life and their life improve when you seek to glorify God in these relationships?
- Consider an "earthly treasure" that you enjoy, and can enjoy to the glory of God. How can you use this for ministry purposes, or as a gateway to heavenly treasure? (In other words, how can you celebrate and give glory to the Creator of the created thing that you enjoy?)
- Have you evaluated someone recently based on their achievement, instead of character? Why is this dangerous?
- How have you been tempted recently to pursue achievement at the expense of biblical character?
