Today, I want to explore what makes for the best life. A truly fulfilling life is built on giving, serving, helping others, and continually developing yourself. As Jesus taught: if you wish to be first, choose to be last; if you desire greatness, become a servant to all. Not only does serving, giving, and helping others bring us profound and lasting happiness, but the more we do so, the more our destiny begins to shift in our favor. When we spread goodness into the world—especially to those who cannot repay us—the universe, held in God’s hands, starts to align in ways that bless our lives.

Let’s clarify what it means to serve and give—and just as importantly, what serving is not. Serving is not about being a wallflower or allowing yourself to be taken advantage of. It doesn’t mean you can never say no, or that you relinquish decision-making. Serving is not passivity or weakness, nor does it mean having no boundaries. In truth, true service often requires strength and authority. Leading, at its core, is a form of serving.

My friend, service is never a sign of weakness. Consider our police officers and first responders, whose mission is to protect and serve. When we meet someone in the military, our instinct is to say, “Thank you for your service.” Even the Marine Corps demonstrates this principle: leaders eat last so that junior Marines are cared for first. Serving does not mean failing to stand up for what is good and right. Rather, it means adding value and meeting real needs. This is how we truly represent Jesus.