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In one of my first counseling classes in my graduate program, my professor asked the question, “If we are training to be counselors to help our future clients flourish and become healthier, do you think it is appropriate for us to define what flourishing might look like for them? What can flourishing look like for a Christian client? What can it look like for an unbeliever?”
I sat dumbfounded in front of him with my fellow classmates, my mental wheels turning sluggishly. What right had I to decide what was “healthy” or “unhealthy” for a client? Furthermore, without the eternal promises of salvation, was it even possible for an unbeliever to flourish without Christ?
We took several minutes to chew on the question, and the greatest takeaway was that some amount of healing and flourishing was possible for every human being regardless of religion, due to being made in the image of God and the dynamic moving of God’s “common grace” in the world.
Meanwhile, in Scripture, the Lord gives us clarity on the genesis of flourishing and the promise of what ultimate flourishing will look like for Christians. In Titus 3, we get a concise snapshot of the Gospel message – God’s actions to justify us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ so that we could become “heirs” in his kingdom. In addition to this new identity of “justified,” rather than “sinner,” we are promised eternal life with our Heavenly Father. This is what eternal flourishing will look like for us.
Flourishing on earth is directly tied to God’s saving work. We are given the ability to hope for the future because of our salvation. In this letter to Titus, Paul emphasizes that because of what the Lord did on our behalf, our earthly flourishing looks like us doing good works for our world and being in relationship with God. This ability and drive to do good comes from the Holy Spirit’s work in us.
I am so grateful to have this image of flourishing in mind as I continue to think through this question from class. I hope that we can continue to find flourishing in our daily life as well.
From this verse in Titus, is there anything that gives you hope in regard to your promised flourishing in eternity, and your flourishing here on earth?
I am comforted by the reminder that I am justified and I am an heir in God’s kingdom for the promises of eternal life, and that in and of itself means that I am in a state of flourishing. My very identity is that of safety, hope, righteousness, and eternal relationship with my Savior.