The Good Life Starts with Admitting You Don't Have It All Together

The Good Life. A life of peace and security and fulfillment…we all define it differently. And if you are anything like most Americans, you're invested in building yours. But here's what's fascinating: research from Gallup found that Americans think society defines success in status-oriented terms, yet the data keeps showing a gap between what we pursue and what actually produces lasting happiness.

You know that doesn't work. Because you know the story of Tiger Woods. He has 82 PGA tour wins with 15 majors, including the Masters…one of the best golfers of all time. And, also, a life of broken relationships, stints in rehab, and DUIs. And he's just the most recent in a long line of people who demonstrate that status doesn't make life better.

And yet, it still has a grip on us. To be known, to accumulate wealth, to be important. The gravitational pull toward defining how good our life is based on how it compares to others is hard to avoid. But there is a better way. It's not easy, but it's simple.

Two Ways to Live

Jesus draws a clear distinction between two approaches to life. In John 10:10, He says, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." There is The way of the World and there is The Way of Jesus.

The way of the world: You've got this.

• Autonomy - I don't need anyone

• Competence - self-made, can-do attitude

• Self-reliance - independence equals strength

• Control - I've got this

The way of Jesus: Trust in Him.

• Dependence - on Jesus and his Word

• Confession - admit your need

• Surrender - borrow strength

• Receive - performance isn't enough

When we follow Jesus we don't suddenly have supernatural powers to get through this life on our own. Quite the contrary. To follow Jesus is to acknowledge our deep need for Jesus in all areas of our lives.

What "Blessed" Really Means

Jesus opens His most famous sermon with these words in Matthew 5:3: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." This statement sounds backward. The first word out of His mouth describes fulfillment, but the pathway He names begins with emptiness.

Outside of the church world, "blessed" isn't a word that is used much at all. And inside the church, we've stripped it of actual meaning. We typically use the word blessed to speak to the circumstances of life. I have a family who loves me, a place to lay my head, and good health…I am blessed. But that misses so much.

The word used in the original language of Greek is makarios. This word isn't at all about the circumstances of life, it's about the state of your soul. Being blessed, then is deep fulfillment, inner wholeness, and satisfaction that transcends the circumstances of life. Even when it's all falling apart, I can be blessed because my soul is settled.

Poor in Spirit: The Doorway to the Kingdom

Being poor in spirit has nothing to do with money or finances. This isn't having low self-esteem or being insecure. Being poor in spirit is to acknowledge our unworthiness before God. Acknowledging our need, embracing our poverty doesn't mean we wallow in self-pity. Instead, it helps us know what posture we should take. Instead of showing up to God with a sense of entitlement, as if we are owed something, we show up ready to receive mercy.

Jesus illustrated this perfectly in Luke 18:9-14 with the story of two men who went to pray. The Pharisee prayed, "I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I'm certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income."

But the tax collector "stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, 'O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.'" Jesus said this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God.

The promise Jesus gives is powerful. Notice He doesn't say they will eventually get something. He says "theirs is" the kingdom of heaven. Present tense. While the fullness of the kingdom is future, those who are poor in spirit already share in its blessings now.

This means:

• Peace in chaos - not because the chaos disappears, but because you're no longer carrying the illusion that everything depends on you

• Purpose in routine - work isn't just work, parenting isn't just survival, even mundane things become spaces where God is present

• Hope in uncertainty - when your confidence shifts from your ability to God's rule, the future doesn't feel as fragile

Putting It Into Practice

How do you approach God? Do you come with entitlement and expectation of being rewarded for your goodness…with your hands full of your trophies and ribbons and gold stars for good behavior? Or do you approach God with utter dependence…with your hands empty, ready to be filled with God's goodness?

It begins with your posture. Instead of a list of your wants and needs, what if you approached God like this?

• Morning - "God, I need you."

• Midday - "God, I'm depending on you."

• Evening - "God, thank you."

When you follow Jesus you know that you can't do anything without him. And here's the beautiful truth: Dependence isn't weakness. Dependence is the doorway to the kingdom.