“The greater danger for most of us is not hat our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.” ~Michelangelo
As I travel the country speaking, writing, and building an army of men who are becoming the best version of themselves in Christ, I’m struck by how easily Christian men settle for the easily attainable American good life. But this good life is nothing more than a good lie.
After staying awake for 48 straight hours of the first the two days of our dating relationship, Shanna and I determined we would get married. I know—pathetic. We were young and dumb and nothing was going to hinder us from getting married, which we did nine months later. We set up a meeting at a Mexican food restaurant with her college pastor to inform him of our glorious 48-hour decision, and his poker face stared at us as he chewed on a tortilla chip. It was awkwardly silent as we waited for his voice of affirmation. Instead, we received his voice of reason.
Staring me up and down (while admiring my sweet mustache I’m sure) he asked Shanna, “Is this the best you can do?”
He went on to explain that Satan wants us to settle for good
but God desires the best for us. Later I thought of John 10:10 where Jesus
said, “The thief comes only to (good) steal and kill (better) and destroy
(best); I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” The
great counterfeiter, Satan, has a good, better, and best strategy for our
lives— to steal, kill, and ultimately destroy.
God’s best plan for us to give us the fullest of lives on
earth as it is in heaven. But we settle for the good life over the best life
and as such work desperately, accumulate mountains of debt, and live selfishly
in order to achieve this deceptive materialistic dream, which is a nightmare
compared to what God desires.
Henry David Thoreau once wrote, “Most men lead lives of quiet desperation.” I couldn’t agree more. Will you settle for the good life, or will you seek God’s best for your life today? The abundant life Jesus promises is for us now. We don’t have to wait until retirement to have it.
