The Today Show recently reported on Dictionary.com’s word of the year—maxxing.
Maxxing is short for “maximizing.”
The term conveys the idea of doing something to the fullest or optimizing some aspect of your life as much as possible.
Apparently, some use it to optimize one’s appearance, called looksmaxxing.
It may also be used in health and wellness, as in sleepmaxxing, to get the best possible night’s sleep.
Another usage is personalitymaxxing—becoming the most likable version of yourself.
Really, anything in your life can get the maxxing treatment if you do it wholeheartedly enough.
Dictionary.com observes that “there are now a lot of maxxings.” Much of this emphasis seems focused on outward improvement and earthly pursuits.
Reflecting on this word of the year, two thoughts came to mind.
#1 Our lives, as ordained and ordered by the Lord, are not about materialistic maxxing.
Jesus said, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Lk. 12:15).
David expressed this truth in Psalm 37:16 when he wrote: “A little that a righteous man has is better than the riches of many wicked.”
Regarding this concept, the wise man taught that wisdom and understanding are better than silver and gold (Prov. 16:16). He also affirmed that a little with the fear of the Lord is better than great treasure with trouble (Prov. 15:16).
Furthermore, the apostle Paul advised that “godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Tim. 6:6).
#2 How about applying the word of the year to spiritual pursuits, as in spiritualmaxxing?
Consider what it would look like to apply this idea to our lives spiritually.
Instead of looking at the bare minimum of time, effort, and energy we could put into Bible study, prayer, and ministry, what if we pursued spiritualmaxxing?
How much time could I put into Bible reading and study?
How much more time could I find, and how many more times could I talk to God in prayer?
How many more opportunities for ministry could I find?
Could I study more thoughtfully, pray more earnestly, and serve more wholeheartedly?
Then think about our attendance at Sunday services.
How could I maximize my worship experience with deeper devotion, greater focus, and heartfelt praise?
Could I maximize the time spent listening to a sermon by taking notes? By making personal application? By thinking of someone I could share the material with?
Spiritualmaxxing would reflect the attitude expressed in 1 Thessalonians 4:1, where Paul offered this exhortation:
“Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more.”
“Excel still more”—that sounds a lot like spiritualmaxxing.
This text speaks of excelling in our sanctification and holiness.
Paul desired that the Philippian brethren abound more and more in love, knowledge, and discernment (Phil. 1:9). Spiritualmaxxing.
The apostle also urged the Corinthian brethren to excel not only in faith and knowledge, but also in giving (2 Cor. 8:7). Think of that! Maximum giving! Not how little can I give and please God, but how much can I give! Spiritualmaxxing.
In his 2023 Florida College lecture, “Excel Still More,” Andy Cantrall wrote:
“The Good News concerning salvation is not only what we can be saved from, but what we are saved for. The gospel is not simply good news about being saved from our past, but all the wonders of the future. It is not just being forgiven for being unholy, but actually being made holy.”
Since maxxing is doing something to the fullest, what if we made Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:19 our own: “to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God”?
Indeed, a wholehearted pursuit of a relationship with the Lord and a deep desire to know Him and draw closer to Him would result in spiritualmaxxing.
Maybe maxxing is not such a bad word after all—if we’re maxxing the right values, attitudes, and actions as we grow spiritually.
–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
