Joel Osteen wrote his popular book, Your Best Life Now, explaining how we can, right now, be happy, healthy, and rich. Or something similar. A cursory reading of Scripture denies this notion, of course. Joel's "positive thinking" and "self-image" techniques don't actually produce financial success or contentment and have nothing to do with Christianity in Scripture. So, is there really no "best life now"? That depends. If by that phrase we mean, "How can I live for what I was created to live for?"—then that might be possible. But do we even know what it is? It's clearly not just about being happy, healthy, and rich. So, what are we truly made for?
Scripture teaches that we, along with all things, were made "from Him and through Him and to Him" (Romans 11:36). We were created to glorify God (Isaiah 43:7), making Him known, reflecting His greatness, and letting our lives point back to Him. Jesus said, "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). This means that even our obedience, for which we were made, is intended to glorify God. Like Adam and Eve in the garden, we were meant to be in intimate relationship with God—a relationship that is now possible (Romans 5:1-2). Solomon summed it up: "Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man" (Ecclesiastes 12:13). We were built to reverence and obey God. Jesus called loving God "the great and first commandment" (Matthew 22:36-40), and Paul wrote that God's purpose for us is to conform us to the image of His Son (Romans 8:28-29).
Olsteen was wrong about "happy, healthy, and rich," but Scripture is clear. Humans were created to glorify God by living in loving fellowship with Him, reflecting His character, cultivating His world, loving others, and making Him known. Ultimately, this is better than simply seeking happiness, health, and wealth. Living this life now would truly be living your "best life now"—with an even better one to come.
It is sad to know of the multitudes of people seeking true purpose in this life who hope to learn of it from someone like Joel Osteen, who while physically lifting up a Bible during his pep talks, clearly has barely (if ever) cracked it open. I appreciate John MacArthur’s response to Osteen’s famous book, when he stated, "The only way you're living your best life now is if you're going to hell." That cuts, but it needed to be said. As you point out today, a plain reading of the Bible will not inform a theology of “health, wealth, and happiness” of the variety Osteen and his ilk promote. Quite the opposite--people who “deny themselves and take up their crosses” are not anticipating “the good life” just down the way. Those who seek God’s will are indeed “happy, healthy, and rich,” but the prosperity is on a spiritual plane, equating to the joy, well-being, and blessings found through following Christ and being conformed to His image. My best life now, indeed.
ReplyDeleteThat "best life now" stuff really is sad since it agrees with the atheist worldview as well. If the only thing that matters is this life, why bother being "good"?
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