“You will never live your best life until you give life your best!” — Timothy P. Burt
That is a simple but profound truth that can change the way you live each day:
Does that sound impossible? Well, it’s not! It’s actually God’s challenge to us. And the good news is, He equips us to live this way. This isn’t about chasing success as the world defines it. It’s about living wholeheartedly—bringing your best effort, best love, best faith, and best obedience into every moment. When you do that, you honor God and position yourself to experience His best for your life.
Paul wrote to the Colossians, Colossians 3:23 (NIV) — “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” That means even in the ordinary tasks—whether at your job, at home, or in service to others—there is an opportunity to glorify God by doing it wholeheartedly. God doesn’t call us to halfhearted living. He calls us to excellence, not for applause, but as worship.
The writer of Ecclesiastes adds, Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NIV) — “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might…” Life is short and fleeting, but when we give our best, it brings purpose and meaning to even the smallest things. A kind word spoken, a prayer lifted up, a responsibility carried out faithfully—these can ripple further than we realize.
And here’s the bigger picture: the purpose of life is not only to live well for yourself, but to carry out God’s plan by being the light and love of Christ to those around you. That’s how the world sees Jesus—through you. For example, imagine a co-worker weighed down with discouragement. You may not think your smile, encouraging word, or quiet prayer with them will make a difference, but God can use that simple act of love to turn their heart toward Him. That’s giving life your best—it’s using whatever gifting you have to advance the plan of God.
Paul also compared life to running a race: 1 Corinthians 9:24 (NIV) — “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” Giving life your best means pressing forward with the determination and focus of a runner who knows the finish line matters. That finish line for us is Christ Himself, the prize worth every sacrifice.
Think about how many people go through life simply “getting by.” They live in survival mode, giving minimal effort, hoping that somehow life will turn out well. But that’s not the kind of life God calls us to. He created each of us with gifts, talents, and opportunities to reflect His love and carry His light into a dark world. That requires intentionality. It means showing up fully present, doing our work as unto the Lord, speaking words that build up instead of tear down, and stepping into moments where we can be His hands and feet.
Living this way won’t always be easy. It demands perseverance, sacrifice, and sometimes even going against the grain of a culture that celebrates mediocrity or self-centeredness. But here’s the good news: when you keep showing up with your best—day after day—it starts to shape a new mindset. Over time, giving your best becomes who you are. It’s no longer something you have to force; it becomes the new you. That’s the transforming work of God in your life, helping you reflect His love, diligence, and excellence in a way that people can see. What an example of God’s goodness you become when wholehearted living becomes your normal way of life!
So let this truth guide you: you will never live your best life until you give life your best. And giving life your best means giving yourself fully to God’s purposes, day by day, moment by moment. That is the life He blesses, and that is the life that truly matters.
Philippians 3:14 (NIV) — “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
