Dying to Self- That we Might Live

Many people think the Bible contains contradictions, but it really doesn’t. The Bible is full of what are called paradoxes. A paradox is a statement or proposition which on the face of it seems self-contradictory, absurd, or at variance with common sense; though, on investigation or when explained, it is proven to be well-founded. One of the paradox's we find in scripture is in Luke 17:33; “Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it”. This is an apparent contradiction; However, when we investigate further as to the scripture’s teaching, we find this verse truly makes sense. In John 12:25, we read, “Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” In other words, if we love the life we have on this earth and our goals and ambitions are all centered here, we will have our best life now- but we will not enjoy life for all of eternity- we most certainly will lose our life. If, however, our greatest ambition on this earth is to glorify God and store up treasure in heaven, then we will work toward that end by striving to be obedient to God’s word. Rather than working toward accumulating and enjoying earthly comforts and pleasures in this present life, our desire will be to become more and more like Christ and to point others to Him, and in so doing- store up our treasure in heaven, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).

In thinking on the necessity of losing our life in order to gain it, we can go to Mark 8:35, where we read that, “..whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.” In other words, we must be willing to give our all for the sake of the Kingdom. Jesus said, “If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servants be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him” (John 12: 26). If we truly follow after Christ, His steps lead us to a cross. Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me”. If we are not willing to daily take up our cross, we are not ready to lose our life for Christ’s sake; we are not willing to deny ourselves any earthly comfort or pleasure, if need be, for the sake of the gospel. If we truly love Him, we will desire to give our all for Him- in the way that He gave his all for us, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you,” (John 15:12-14).

We are clearly told that we are not promised an easy life on this earth as Jesus’ followers, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Even though we won’t likely have to suffer as many or severe hardships as Paul did, ( see 2 Corinthians 11:24-26), if we are in Christ, we still will suffer for the sake of the gospel, and in so doing, we must endure our trials as Paul did, “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10).

For Christ’s sake, we must be willing to work wholeheartedly, serving our Lord, in obedience to His word, knowing there is an inheritance that awaits us, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23-24). What a privilege and honor to serve the One who (on our behalf), “came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).