Highest and Best Use

In the Real Estate Profession, there is a term, "highest and best use." The term specifically refers to value of a property; that it's worth is directly related to it's usage. For instance, a residential home in a neighborhood of residential home would best be valued according to the recent sales of similar homes in the same neighborhood. If that same home was located on a busy street, and surrounded by commercial property, the value as a home might be considerably lower than it's value as a commercial storefront.

I was thinking about the condition of my heart, and this term popped up in my mind... "highest and best use." Am I operating my heart in it's highest and best use? If yes, what does that look like? And, if not, why?

I think we could agree that the highest and best use of our heart is to love God. In fact, Jesus stated this truth quite clearly: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37). In effect, Jesus was saying, the highest and best use of your heart is to love God first... above everything else. The Scripture is filled with similar references, and even Jesus was quoting the Old Testament when He made this statement. "Seeking the kingdom of God first" is a similar New Testament command, simply setting us straight on what is to be our priority. If we love God first, every thought and every action would be tempered by our love for Him. What we do with our time and our treasures would be directly affected by this love that is first in all things. Those who love God first ACT like they love God... it fleshes out in acts of kindness, humility, goodness, and the other fruits of the Spirit.

Jesus continued, "The second (commandment) is like it: Love others as yourself." This sets the next two priorities: love others, then love yourself. And I'll finish it off by saying everything else comes after those three priorities. Let's expand those two a little...

Love others. I think if we are honest with ourselves, we know what that looks like: Treat others better than ourselves. Lend without expecting in return. Be generous with our time and talent and treasures. Give a lot. Listen closely. Pray unceasingly for others. Be encouraging. Always hope for the best, and celebrate the successes of others. Easier said than done, I know, but we know what it looks like. That doesn't mean we should allow others to abuse us and just be a "doormat"... even Jesus said, "Do not cast your pearls before swine." (Matthew 7:6) The implication is that we need to be discerning about where and what and how we give. I personally give to my family first, then other believers, then others as they cross my path, and not without prayer. I would rather err in giving than withholding though... but I confess I do struggle at times determining where the end of loving is...

I was talking to a young man the other day. He is a youth minister who is a godly young man making a difference in his church and community. Having had a pretty rough week, he was wondering if maybe he cared too much. I quoted a song from Switchfoot: "If it doesn't break your heart it isn't love... If it doesn't break your heart, it's not enough." Sometimes (many times) loving others is painful, and most of the time it is simply inconvenient. Bottom line is this: we love God first, then we love others... that is our highest and best use... it is what we were created for. If that is true, why would we want to do anything else?

Oh, the Love Yourself thing... I think it is worth discussing. Many people have no trouble with this, other than putting it before the other two commandments...If we are honest with ourselves, I think we would admit that we do far too many things because we simply WANT to. We buy stuff for ourselves we don't need, we spend time doing things for ourselves instead of others far too often.. and I could go on. Don't get me wrong, we should take care of ourselves, that is what loving ourselves means. But, taking care of ourselves means we feed our souls by going to church, reading the Bible, and things like that. We should exercise and eat properly. We shouldn't indulge in things that are harmful to us (drugs, excessive alcohol, or anything excessively, for that matter.) We should consider what the Highest and Best use of our free time is and be careful not to simply fall onto the couch and watch brainless television all of the time. Sometimes we do need that... but maybe a nice walk in the evening would be better? If we are really loving God, then loving others, then ourselves... what would our lives look like?

Lastly, love everything else that is good.Philippians 4:8 says, "...Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

That sums it up. The Highest and Best use of us is to Love God, Love Others, Love ourselves, and always think about excellent things.

As in a real estate transaction, there is an appraisal done on any property that is under contract. An assessment is done to be sure that it is valued at its true value. Your true value is this: That God so loves you that He sent His One and Only Son to die for you. He is the Grand Appraiser. When you go to your final "closing", at the end of your life, will you have lived up to His assessment of how incredibly valuable you really are? You cannot do anything about yesterday, but you have today. What will you do?

(Note: Danny Thompson is a Realtor in San Antonio, Texas. Saved in 1991, served as Family Minister at Evers Road Christian Church from 1998-2001. Currently serving at River City Community Church as one of the Worship Leaders, and a Life Group Coach.)