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By Hank Walker | Pastor at Peach City Fellowship

“Your Best Life Now” (YBLN), Joel Osteen’s best-selling book (8 million copies to date), has given rise to the oft-repeated mantra employing those words. Biblical ignorance, ineffective church leaders, and a palpable lack of discernment have allowed this Trojan Horse to run wildly in American churches.  This has all happened even though YBLN teachings fundamentally contradict core biblical teachings and are antithetical to the true Gospel.

The Bible consistently teaches that our earthly existence is temporary and that true fulfillment comes not through material prosperity but through spiritual richness in Christ. Jesus commands us, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21). Indisputably, Jesus’ own words contradict the notion that accumulating wealth and pursuing worldly success should capture a Christian’s heart.

Consider the Gospels: Jesus denied Himself for the sake of His sheep. His apostles traded their lives and livelihoods for treasures above. Marked by persecution, imprisonment, and physical suffering, Paul’s life demonstrates that faithfulness involves sacrifice rather than self-indulgence. He asserts, “ALL who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus WILL suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12). Christians should anticipate suffering—NOT worldly success. After all, WHY should one “count the cost” of being Jesus’ disciple when the expectation is GETTING instead of GIVING?!

The promise of eternal life far surpasses any temporary gain in this world. Pursuing prosperity only distracts from the believer’s true calling: Glorifying Christ as faithful disciples. God may bless Christians materially, but Christians aren’t to pursue material blessings.

YBLN presents a dangerous distortion of the Scriptures, transforming faith into a means for chasing idols! Christian, heed these words: “Do not love the world or the things IN the world. If ANYONE loves the world, the love of the Father is NOT in him. For ALL that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is NOT from the Father… And the world is passing away… BUT whoever does THE WILL OF GOD abides forever” (1 John 2:15-17).

Grace and peace, y’all. Soli Deo Gloria