By: Mike Riley
For many years, various media have told us that the American dream is to live the “good life.” That “good life” usually consists of having a good job, owning a nice home, driving a new car, and providing our children with the best secular education possible. In later years, the “good life” is a carefree retirement — having sufficient funds to provide ourselves adequate health care, and the ability to travel and see the world.
While nothing is intrinsically wrong with these goals, they fall quite short of the noble goals in Scripture. In Galatians 2:20, the inspired writer Paul provides a more accurate picture of the “better life” in Christ:
“I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and delivered Himself up for me. “
Our importance to our family and peers is not measured by our looks, monetary success, or position in life, but by Who “lives” in our life — as Paul acknowledged.
As Christians, we should possess high self-esteem because Christ lives in us. Additionally, Paul viewed the saints as having God’s Spirit dwelling in them (Romans 8:9-11; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:16).
After our conversion to Christ, we experience a shift from selfish ambition to unselfish generosity (2 Corinthians 8:1-5). In quoting the Lord, Paul in Acts 20:35, makes it clear that the good life is achieved by giving rather than receiving.
As we become aware of our own inadequacies and sinful behaviors, we stop trusting in ourselves and start trusting in the true and living God (1 Timothy 4:8-10; 1 Timothy 6:17). Pride and its attendant destruction (Proverbs 16:18) are replaced with faith and its promised blessings (2 Corinthians 1:19-20).
We live our lives “in Christ” as an expression of thanksgiving for His great blessings (Ephesians 1:3), and we are motivated to faithful worship and sacrificial obedience because Jesus set the example at Calvary (Hebrews 5:5-9). Brethren, the world will always call us to share with others, the American dream of the “good life” — but let’s also be ready to share with them the “better life” in Christ (John 10:10; cf. Romans 5; 2 Peter 1:1-11).