Your ‘Best Life’ or ‘The Right Life’?
Living ‘your best life’ sounds so appealing, doesn’t it? It just… feels right. Inspiring and deserved. The way life ought to be. But I’m not so sure we should be living that life.
Should we desire to live our ‘best life’, or the ‘right life’? Should our effort be spent trying to get the most out of life, or putting the most into it?
What’s wrong with living your best life you ask? Well for one, it may not be right. In this sense, what’s best is being right.
What is The Right Life?
By pursuing our best life, we may entirely miss the life we were called to live. That is, the right life. Living your best life is best for you. Living the right life is best for everyone. The right life is a life that is intentionally infused and directed by wisdom. And it starts with a decision. Am I ready and willing to receive wisdom?
“Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it.”
– Proverbs 8:33“Listen to counsel and accept discipline, That you may be wise the rest of your days.”
– Proverbs 19:20“How blessed is the man who finds wisdom… For her profit is better than the profit of silver; And her gain better than fine gold. She is more precious than jewels; And nothing you desire compares with her.”
– Proverbs 3:14-15
Solomon and The Right Life
The Right Life is a life given to us by God as we receive wisdom, and everyone is served by our living wisely. As Proverbs 3:15 indicates, living the Right Life is incomparable.
“Right living (read: The Right Life) comes from right thinking, right thinking comes from right thinking about God.”
– Dr. Earl Radmacher
Solomon chose the right life. When he was given the opportunity to ask God for anything: kingdoms, riches, land… he asked for wisdom–to know what is right and good in order to effectively lead those he was responsible for.
7 In that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, “Ask what I shall give you.” 8 And Solomon said to God, “You have shown great and steadfast love to David my father, and have made me king in his place. 9 O Lord God, let your word to David my father be now fulfilled, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people, for who can govern this people of yours, which is so great?” 11 God answered Solomon, “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked for possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, and have not even asked for long life, but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may govern my people over whom I have made you king, 12 wisdom and knowledge are granted to you. I will also give you riches, possessions, and honor, such as none of the kings had who were before you, and none after you shall have the like.”
– 2 Chronicles 1:7-12
He certainly wasn’t perfect, but he was wise. In all matters. Wisdom is given to us for a purpose. A purpose that is to be skillfully lived out to the benefit of others–that is the right life. A life that is available to every one of us. Wouldn’t this be considered best?
We all have been given a kingdom of sorts. A realm that we are charged with caring for–to fulfill our God-given purpose, for a specific time and place.
Receive wisdom, live wisely–mind, body and soul.
Scott
Explore wisdom further:
Define Wisdom
Words of Wisdom
Scriptures on Wisdom
New Testament Scriptures on Wisdom
Proverbs Scriptures on Wisdom
New Testament Scriptures on Wisdom
