For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.— Luke 9:24
Most people approach life backwards.. They put self up-front and everything else behind. They make self the focal point and everything else is made to revolve around that. That explains why we often refer to the world as being “up-side-down”.
The Bible teaches just the opposite. According to Jesus, to find our life we must lose it. To gain it we must give it away. As long as we make living about us we will be miserable—unfulfilled. “Dying to self” is the only thing that can make us truly useful in the Kingdom of God. All truly great men and women have been willing to deny themselves for Christ’ sake. Yet they are the happiest and most well-adjusted people on earth. Obviously losing one’s life for Christ not only makes us useful, it also makes joyful, content, satisfied. Living for self does just the opposite. This accounts for people being so miserable.
Few there be that can honestly say, “–I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content”(Phil. 4:11). They can’t say that because fewer still can say, “For to me to live is Christ-“(Phil. 1:21). Paul could make these statements because he could honestly say, “But none of these things (“bonds and afflictions”) move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus–“(Acts 20:24). Only a man like that can say to a carnal church,”–I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved”(2 Cor. 12:15). Would it not be great if we all had Paul’s attitude?
Getting to that place is perhaps the most difficult thing we ever do, because every step we take is met with opposition from the world, the flesh, and the devil. The flesh desires all for self and none for Christ. Christ demands all for Him and none for the flesh. You make the call. Keep your life and lose it or lose it and find it. The wise man exchanges his will for that of Christ’. What will you do?
