Losing and Gaining

Society says that a good life is health and wealth.

Christ says that the only way to find one’s life is to lose it for His sake (Matt 10:39).

• How is a life lost for Christ different from this ideal?
  • We are consumed by the self driven society in which we live. “It’s all about me,” screams from news headlines, advertisements, and the media. The idea of thinking of others before ourselves seems to be long forgotten. Sure, having lots of money and everything I could ever want or dream sounds wonderful, but what about everybody else. How many people will I ignore that are hurting and broken in my pursuit of happiness? I’m sorry, but I can’t help but think of all the Christians who have gone before me who were willing to forsake it all for the sake of the gospel. When we let go of our lives and allow God to take control we truly begin to live as God intended us to. Once we as Christians begin to view our lives not as our own, we start to understand that everything we have is not ours. God is the giver of our food, shelter, jobs, leisure time, etc. We are to be good stewards of all of these. Not only the stuff we have but the gifts He has given us. We all are different and have different abilities that God wants to use to show others His love. It’s really amazing to think that God created me special and different, unlike anyone else but it’s true. He wants to use us for His purposes, we just have to be willing to get out of the way.

• What does the “Victorious Christian life” mean?
  • I get so sick of hearing the prosperity gospel being spewed all over the body of Christ. Sure it’s true that God blesses those who give, but when people begin to give for the sake of receiving, somethings wrong. What happened to the Lord is my Shepard I shall not want? There are a lot of wealthy people (material) who could live really well without all the extravagant crap. Anyways, that’s a whole other issue. The Victorious Christian life can be described as being wealthy and experiencing financial rewards due to good stewardship. But the greatest victory of all time came through what appeared to be defeat. When Christ died on the cross and was buried, He rose again on the third day proclaiming that all authority had been given to Him. He conquered the grave and offers us all eternal life and salvation! How could such defeat promote such an outcome? Only through the awesome power of God can what appears to be a disaster be a complete success. Does this mean that the Victorious Christian life means we are always poor and needy, giving away all of our stuff to others and barely getting by? Not necessarily, but by doing those things we are allowing God to bless others through what we have been given and are reminded of our dependence upon Him. Knowing that God is leading, providing, and caring for us will help us experience this paradox of victory.

John 12: 24-26

24I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.