“The best the world has to offer” is the marketing catchphrase for a popular bank credit card. It’s a catchy slogan meant to convey the message: “This card must be good!” Think of all the good things, yes even the best things, this world has to offer. Whether it is the finest silks, cottons, or leathers, the most luxurious cars or mansions, delectable foods, fine art, watches, rugs, furniture, or even spectacular entertainment and all the splendor of this world’s treasures, the best of this world is as varied as it is delightful. And to think, it could all be yours – if you only had the right credit card!
Of course, the marketing folks don’t say that exactly.
However, the phrase itself is worth considering. “The best the world has to offer” sounds very familiar. Does it sound familiar to you? Would it sound more familiar phrased like this? Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me” (Matthew 4:8-9).
In this passage of scripture, the devil is in the midst of his infamously great temptations of Jesus. In this, the last of the three recorded temptations, the devil offers Jesus “the best the world has to offer.” He shows Jesus all the kingdoms of the world – and their glory. He then offers Jesus what the devil thought was a pretty sweet deal – “It can all be yours IF you will ONLY fall down and worship me!” The devil thought he’d saved the best and strongest temptation for last!.
Jesus, of course, did not fall down and worship the devil – although he was tempted by the “best the world had to offer.” Jesus looked beyond what this world had to offer and remembered the glory of The Father and cast his allegiance with Him. As a man in today’s society, is your sole motivation the seeking of “the best the world has to offer?” If so, please reconsider. Please realize, like Jesus, that this world’s glory is fleeting at best and at worst offers empty promises of happiness. Please see clearly, like Moses, that the ‘treasures of Egypt’ are nothing when compared with the reward that awaits the faithful (Hebrews 11:25-27). Or consider Solomon, who having been there and done that realized a pursuit of “the best the world has to offer” apart from God is empty and vain (Ecclesiastes 5:10-16)?
Jesus, in Mark 8:36-37, asks the probing question, “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his soul? Or, what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Try to imagine acquiring all of this world’s goods (impossible, really to imagine). Is that worth more than your soul? Jesus emphatically replies, “No”. Despite what you might hear to the contrary from the advertisements and commercials that bombard us daily, we must guard our hearts and minds from beginning to believe that “the best this world has to offer” is something we need – and must pursue to our deaths! When we give our lives to the pursuit of happiness through external means and temporary pleasures, we are indeed “grasping for the wind” (Ecclesiastes 2:1-11). Instead, why not begin today by living a new thought life? Rather than falling prey to the latest and greatest fads or must-haves, begin to explore the contentment and peace that comes from nurturing a relationship with God. Spend time in prayer thanking Him for the countless blessings that are often overlooked. Remember all that you do have rather than grousing about that which you don’t have. Begin pursuing ways in which you can give back versus always striving to get ahead. Concentrate more time, energy, and resources on making preparation for the glories of the hereafter.
Heaven will surely be worth more than “the best this world has to offer!” For just a moment, should we not examine our lives by asking, “What am I doing to store up my treasure there?
