Philippians 2:1-2
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ² then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind (NIV)

Every philosopher since Aristotle has asked the question of how we obtain ‘the good life.’ What does it mean to flourish as a human being? Jesus did not philosophize about possible ways to live the good life. He simply laid it out for us in His teaching. He did not come to judge but to give life more abundantly. His mission was not only for our eternal life but for us to find ‘the good life.’

The world has posited many different possibilities for obtaining the good life, but each of these has theorized living the good life through human endeavors, but Jesus would remind us that nothing is good, but God Himself. The good life can only be found in God.

Many Christians come to God expecting to experience this good life only to be disappointed. Salvation does not usher in the good life. It is maturity. The moment we accept Christ, the good life is available to us, but we must learn the maturity to live into this life. It requires that we live according to Biblical principles.

The two greatest principles are love and generosity. We must grasp more and more the unfathomable love of God for us by the power of the Holy Spirit. As the Spirit increases our ability to comprehend this love, then we must give it away. To love others as we are loved by God is transformative. It permeates the heart and soul with potential for deep healing, restored hope, and new wisdom to live the good life.

Paul says his joy will be complete when those he has poured himself into begin to pour themselves into others. This is when the good life becomes tangible. To see how God has used us to rescue, restore, and renew hearts and minds. This makes our joy complete. This is the good life.

Prayer: Lord, may the Holy Spirit work to increase my understanding of Your love so that I might live in it and give it away to others. Amen.