LIVING THE GOOD LIFE

Discovering What Truly Matters

Morrie Schwartz was a sociology professor at Brandeis University when he was diagnosed with ALS, a progressive and ultimately fatal disease.

As his illness advanced, he knew that his time was limited. His former student, Mitch Albom, began visiting him every Tuesday, and their conversations during Morrie's final months were later recorded in Tuesdays with Morrie.

Knowing that he was approaching the end of his life, Morrie spoke about the importance of spiritual development while we are still well and healthy. In his words:

“Even I do not know what spiritual development means, but I know we are deficient in some way. We are too involved in materialistic things; they do not satisfy us.”

There is something particularly striking about hearing those words from someone who knew that his own life was drawing to a close.

And perhaps we do not have to wait until the end of our lives to ask the same question:

What actually makes a good life?

We all know what living the good life looks like—or at least we think we do.

The world around us gives us a fairly recognizable picture. A successful career.

Promotions. A good income. A beautiful home. A nice car. Recognition. Influence. The opportunity to travel and enjoy some of the finer things in life.

Even if we do not believe that the good life is entirely about material things, we would probably look at someone who has achieved these things and think, They are doing well.

And there is nothing necessarily wrong with doing well.

Hard work, ambition and the desire to provide well for ourselves and our families can motivate us to pursue opportunities and make something of our lives. Scripture itself speaks positively about diligence, work and provision.

Yet we also know that possessing the things associated with the good life does not necessarily produce a good life.

We have heard the stories of people who seem to have it all—wealth, recognition, accomplishment and success—yet admit that something is still “missing.” There is a “gap” that all they have acquired or achieved has somehow failed to fill. From the outside, their lives may appear enviable, but they themselves recognize that having everything they once thought would make life good has not necessarily made it so.

Jesus spoke about this more than two thousand years ago.

“A man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”(Luke 12:15, KJV)

He also said:

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth... But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven...”(Matthew 6:19–20, KJV)

And when a wealthy young ruler came to Him, Jesus exposed something deeper than the man's possessions. When asked to give them up and follow Jesus, the young man could not do it.

But none of this means that wealth itself is the problem.

Scripture records people who followed God and were also wealthy. Abraham was described as very rich. God greatly blessed Isaac. David acknowledged that riches and honour come from God. When Solomon asked for wisdom, God gave him riches and honour as well.

In the New Testament, Joseph of Arimathea is specifically described as both a rich man and a disciple of Jesus. His wealth did not prevent him from following Christ. After Jesus died, Joseph used his own new tomb for Jesus' burial.

So the issue is not simply whether we have wealth or whether we do not.

As I reflected on this, I wondered: if wealth is not the measure, what is? What does a good life look like from God's perspective?

Perhaps Scripture itself gives us a picture.

Start With God

If Scripture gives us a starting point for living well, it begins with our relationship with God.

When Joshua was preparing to lead Israel, God told him:

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth... for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”(Joshua 1:8, KJV)

David gave similar advice to Solomon:

“Keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways... that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest.”(1 Kings 2:3, KJV)

And Jesus brings us even closer to the source:

“He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit.”(John 15:5, KJV)

There it is.

Before possessions. Before position. Before recognition. Before everything else, our relationship with God comes first.

Jesus Himself said:

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”(Matthew 6:33, KJV)

The good life begins with knowing the One who gave us life. And from that relationship, we begin to recognize and appreciate the other gifts He has placed around us.

One of those gifts is people.

The People God Has Given Us

God did not design us to live life alone.

From the beginning, God said:

“It is not good that the man should be alone.”(Genesis 2:18, KJV)

The Psalmist tells us:

“God setteth the solitary in families.”(Psalm 68:6, KJV)

And Proverbs reminds us:

“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”(Proverbs 17:17, KJV)

Family and friendship are among the gifts that can make a life rich in ways that money cannot measure. They give us people with whom to celebrate, people who stand beside us when things go wrong, people to love and people who love us.

Years ago, a friend of mine was offered a promotion at work. She had worked hard and was ready for the next level—a Director position. It meant better pay, greater influence, important meetings and all the advantages that came with moving up.

I was excited for her. I could see her in the role.

To my surprise, she turned it down.

She told me that the position would take her away from home far more than she was willing to accept. She had one child, and being present for her child mattered more to her at that point in her life than the title or the additional money.

At the time, I wondered how she could turn down such an opportunity.

But perhaps she understood something important: not every opportunity to have more necessarily gives us more of what matters.

Morrie, the professor we met earlier, came to a similar realization as he faced the end of his life. He spoke about the support, love, care and concern that come from family, and described that sense of security as something that “nothing else will give... not money, not fame, not work.”

Scripture describes family as one of God's gifts:

“Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.”(Psalm 127:3, KJV)

Perhaps this too is something we overlook when we measure how well we are doing in life. If we have a mother or father, a brother or sister, children, grandparents, extended family—or simply people God has placed in our lives who have become family—we already possess something of tremendous value: people to love and people who love us, people to call and people who will show up when adversity comes.

Then we are already rich in ways that no title, salary or possession can measure.

And people are not the only gifts God has placed around us. Sometimes, all we have to do is step outside and look.

Enjoy the World God Has Given Us

There is another part of the good life that is almost always within our reach and costs us nothing: enjoying the world God has created around us.

When we read the Gospels, it is striking how much of the natural world found its way into Jesus' teaching. He spoke about seeds and soil, mustard seeds and fig trees, vines and branches, sheep and shepherds, wheat and weeds, harvests and changing weather.

Even His parables suggest someone who paid attention to the ordinary world around Him. Jesus noticed how a tiny seed grows. He knew what happened when seed fell on rocky ground or among thorns. He noticed the changing seasons and the signs in the sky.

And sometimes He simply invited His listeners to look:

“Behold the fowls of the air...”(Matthew 6:26, KJV)

And:

“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow...”(Matthew 6:28, KJV)

Even the little ant has something to teach us:

“Go to the ant... consider her ways, and be wise.”(Proverbs 6:6, KJV)

Behold.

Consider.

Look at the birds.

Look at the flowers.

Watch the little ant.

There may be an invitation here for us too. We can take time to notice and enjoy the world God has placed around us—the trees, the birds in the morning, the little ants going about their work, flowers growing along our path, the changing colours of the sky, the rain, the sunshine and the seasons.

Morrie called it “the universe around us” and observed how easily we take it for granted.

And perhaps one of the loveliest things about these gifts is that they are already around us and they are free. We do not need a promotion to enjoy them. We do not need a larger bank account. We do not have to wait until some future season when life finally slows down.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”(Psalm 19:1, KJV)

Perhaps part of living the good life is simply taking the time to behold and consider what God has already placed within our reach.

And while we are at it, perhaps we can borrow a little from Solomon's wisdom and remember to enjoy the ordinary pleasures of everyday life:

“Every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.”(Ecclesiastes 3:13, KJV)

A meal. A walk. A beautiful day. The laughter of people we love. The satisfaction of work well done.

These too are part of God's gifts to us.

And while we enjoy what God has given us, Scripture also reminds us to look beyond ourselves.

A Life That Makes Room for Others

The good life does not end with what we can enjoy ourselves. God also calls our attention to those around us, especially those in need.

“He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.”(Proverbs 19:17, KJV)

Jesus takes it even further:

“For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in...”(Matthew 25:35, KJV)

And when the righteous ask when they had done these things for Him, Jesus answers:

“Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”(Matthew 25:40, KJV)

Giving to someone in need. Visiting someone who is sick or lonely. Sharing what we have. Offering our time. Praying for someone. Showing kindness when there is nothing in it for us.

These things may never appear on anyone's list of accomplishments, but Jesus tells us that He notices them.

What Does This Mean for Us?

Perhaps the good life is not somewhere ahead of us, waiting for the next promotion, the larger house, the bigger bank account, the recognition we hope will eventually come—or even waiting for the children to grow up before we finally have time to enjoy ourselves.

Perhaps it is worth looking again at the life we have right now.

If we have a relationship with God; if we have people to love and people who love us; if we have enough for today; if we can step outside and enjoy the world God created; and if we have something, however small, that we can share with another person—perhaps we are already richer than we think.

That does not mean we stop dreaming, working, building or believing God for more.

It simply means that we do not have to postpone living and enjoying God's gifts until the more arrives.

The Apostle Paul knew both sides:

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.”(Philippians 4:12, NIV)

He had learned the secret of being content in either circumstance.

Perhaps that is part of living the good life too: being grateful for what God has already placed in our hands while still trusting Him for what is ahead.

Perhaps some of the greatest treasures of the good life are already around us.

And above all, may we remain close to the One from whom every good thing comes.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above...”(James 1:17, KJV)

As You Go About Your Day

Take a moment to look at the life you already have.

• Behold. Consider. Look around you today. Notice the birds, the trees, the flowers, the little ants, the sky—God's creation, freely available for us to enjoy.

• Think about the people God has placed in your life. Have you told them lately how much they mean to you?

• Is there someone you can encourage, help, visit, call or give to today?

  
  

May the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy, be praised and glorified for all His goodness to us.

In Jesus' name. Amen.