Session 21

Only the Best Will Do

From The Blessed Life

I am continually learning (and re-learning) this truth: Doing what’s best often means doing what is most difficult. Sometimes life offers up a delectable buffet of easy options - maybe even good options. But easy and good don’t usually cut it when we desire God’s best.

Take exercise, for instance. I think we can all agree that it is one of the best things we can do to keep our bodies healthy. It’s the best option, but sitting on the sofa eating ice cream is easier (I’m not hatin’ on ice cream or sofas, but you get my point).

Accumulating “stuff” can also fall into this category. It’s really pretty easy to buy “stuff.” We don’t even have to be able to pay for it. Commercial America is often perfectly happy to allow us to borrow against God’s future blessings. Probably not the best option - even when it is the easiest and most immediately gratifying.

Paul - in his letters to Timothy and Titus - reminds his younger charges that leaders in the Church are called to self-control and discipline. In all areas of our lives. Including our money and our “stuff.”  When we invite the Holy Spirit into every nook and cranny of our lives, He will equip us to choose what is best and difficult, over what is good and easy. He wants us to honor Him with our finances, and He will enable us to make the hard choices. Even when it means saying “No” or “Not now…” to the newest thing that I just have to have. Because His best is always worth it!