Looking at Max’s life, I have to conclude that the good life is not about the sum total of what we contribute to the world. It’s about loving. Utilitarianism knows nothing of love—as Peter Singer discovered when he found himself lavishing money and care on his Alzheimer’s-stricken mother, something that’s completely against his own philosophy.

Truth matters, and the truth is we are creatures made in the image of a loving God, and life has an ultimate value. So beware of the smooth-talking philosophers in our midst. Their position may seem very appealing and even logical. But it’s a deadly logic.

For further reading:

The Good Life: Seeking Purpose, Meaning, and Truth in Your Life by Charles Colson with Harold Fickett. Get a copy for yourself, and for a friend! Also visit the book’s website to learn more about it and how to share The Good Life with others.

BreakPoint Commentary No. 030528, “Something to Celebrate: Faith That Goes Beyond Happy Endings.”

BreakPoint Commentary No. 030409, “Questions of Life and Death: The Activist and the Professor.”

BreakPoint Commentary No. 041004, “Are We This Pro-Life?: Parenting Special-Needs Children.”

BreakPoint Commentary No. 030114, “Coming Soon to a Hospital Near You: ‘Futile Care’ and the Culture of Death.”

Joni and Friends exists to communicate the Gospel and equip Christ-honoring churches worldwide to evangelize and disciple people affected by disability.

Roberto Rivera, “Lean on Me: Dignity and Dependency,” BreakPoint Online,28 January 2004.