Joel Osteen’s book “Your Best Life Now” has caused quite a stir. One of the claims Mr. Osteen makes is, “God wants to increase you financially” (page 5). I am sure that Osteen is sincere when he says and believes that wealth and success are the way to happiness. But is that what the Bible says?
Don’t we all want to live our best life? Of course we do, but according to the scriptures it’s more than being able to afford that guacamole upcharge. It’s more than dancing like life’s a Broadway musical. According to scriptures, living our best life is living out and embracing what God has gifted us to be—his children. As believers, Jesus’ death on the cross made way for an eternity with God and a life on earth with Him.
It doesn’t mean a perfect life or one untouched by hardships, but it does mean living a full, abundant life that God made possible (John 10:10)! It means that instead of helping to make the most of us, we should be making the most of God in us.
This God-centered “best life” doesn’t happen by accident. The path of least resistance won’t get us there. We will need intentionality and constant reminders to yourself of some Biblical principles:
Living your best life requires focus.
Jesus defines “the best life” in Matthew 22. Speaking to the Pharisees he says 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 root of our best (God-glorifying), life. This love of God is the only kind of love that can satisfy the hunger of our hearts. Love of money or relationships won’t do. God’s glory, and not our own, is the only glory we were designed to be enthralled with.
In his same conversation, Jesus says that the second greatest command is to “love your neighbor as yourself.” If you want a thermometer for living your best, God-glorifying life don’t look at your wealth or success. Don’t even look primarily at your biblical literacy, theological knowledge, or church involvement (though these are all important). Instead, examine the quality of your relationships in light of God’s priorities.
To say that rich or not, life on this earth is the best you can have is true—if you’re not a Christian. The non-Christian always lives his best life here and now because his next life is one of no hope, joy, meaning, satisfaction, and relief from eternal suffering.
In Ephesians 5:8, Paul starts by saying, “for once you were in darkness.” This was the state the Ephesians were in before Paul shared the Good News. When he came, though, he brought the Light of Jesus Christ to allow the people to see clearly. They needed to see the destructive lifestyle they had chosen, and its ultimate results.
Are you living your best life? If you have made the transition from darkness to light, then your answer is YES! Jesus Christ came so that you could live your best life. This is possible because Jesus Christ is the best thing that ever happened to the world. When He entered your life, you received the best. Now make it your business to live your best life; Love God and your neighbor too and look ahead to the day when our best life will continue in glory.