“The Highest and Best”

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:10-11)

The phrase “approving things that are excellent” suggests “recognizing the highest and best”.  According to Moffatt’s translation: “enabling you to have a sense of what is vital”!  The NIV simply says: “discern what is best”.

When one grows in knowledge and discernment, he is able to recognize what is best.  It can be a great deterrent to one losing their faith.  Love rightly guided brings out the best in one’s character.  One who is sincere has an undivided heart that realizes the impossibility of uniting the pursuits of the world with the pursuits of God!  Several applications are worthy of consideration.

So, how do you use your time?  There is nothing wrong with occasional leisure and fun. (Ecclesiastes 3:12,13)  Our Father made this world; and his children, of all people, should know how to enjoy it.  However, if the leisure causes one to lose sight of the spiritual, he will miss what is essential and best.  (Ephesians 5:16,17)  Take time for God, to pray, worship, and meditate.

What about your body?  It is certainly beneficial to exercise the body. (I Timothy 4:8)   God designed the body for certain physical pleasures.  However, it is best to use your body and life to pursue godliness.  “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.”(1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Furthermore Solomon says:  “There is desirable treasure, And oil in the dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man squanders it.” (Proverbs 21:20)  There is nothing wrong with working hard, being a good steward, and enjoying some of the things of this life. However, it is better to work hard so you can give to others,  (Ephesians 4:28)  especially for the work of the Lord!

What about your prayer life?  Is it wrong to make requests of God?  Of course not!  (Philippians 4:6)  It is better when one’s petitions are coupled with thanksgiving.  However, the highest prayer is one that submissively yields to the will of God.

Bible reading and study is of tremendous value.  (I Timothy 4:13)  It is even more beneficial to meditate on Scripture.  (Psalms 1:1,2)  Hiding God’s word in our heart can be a great deterrent to sin. (Psalms 119:11)  However, when one becomes intimately acquainted with God, the author of the Bible, and implicitly trusts His every command, it is best.

In our religious aims one must obey God to be saved.  (Hebrews 5:8,9)  However, it is better to lose oneself in God’s will out of a desire to glorify Him.  “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;” (1 Peter 2:9)

In each of these areas we need to recognize what is best.  This is not just intellectual.  It is a growth of love- love of God to better understand Him, love of Christ to better appreciate Him, love of man to value his soul, love of heavenly things to enable us to seek what is most important.

By George Slover
 
 

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