Losing to Gain

“He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it” (Mt. 10:39).

Finding a happy life can be a self consuming quest and an illusive dream. The excessive preoccupation with the pursuit of happiness will culminate in a broken and shattered life. Because of the perverted thinking of a fallen world, many people believe that the fulfillment of desires is the means to achieve happiness. However, the lust of the eye, the desire of the flesh, the pride of life and the selfish life long building of a comfort zone will never bring lasting happiness. Such happiness quickly dissipates as the morning fog disappears with the appearance of sun light. When you feed the “flesh” with lustful desires, you consume the essence of the “self,” which is the inner being, your soul. The obsessive pursuit of a happy life will, therefore, cause you to lose your soul, the connection to your life source, God. The Wisdom of God, Christ Jesus, succinctly declares this profound truth: “He that findeth his life shall lose it.” Holding on to a happy life is like holding water with your hand; it will slip away through your fingers.

However, Jesus gives us the contrast to the selfish life: “He that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” When you lose your selfish desires, and freely give yourself to others, then and only then you will find the essence of life. God is the essence of life, and a relationship with God leads to happiness. In order to lose your selfish desires and find the true essence of life, you must first understand the purpose for life. The purpose for life is not the pursuit of happiness, but it is to please God. The Bible in Rev. 4:11 reveals …”for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” It is clear, my friends; you were created, not to please yourself, not to pursue happiness, but to please God. Pleasing God is the most unselfish thing you can do in life; it takes self denial, becoming a living sacrifice for God. Pleasing God entails loving God with all your mind, all your heart, and all your strength, and also, loving your neighbors, even your enemies as your self. Yes, lose your selfish life to gain the abundant life; lose self worth, self dependence, selfcenteredness, and all selfishness in order to gain the everlasting pleasure of your creator. Always remember this truism: It is not foolish to lose what you cannot keep in order to gain what you cannot lose. Wisdom is losing the temporal to gain the eternal. Jesus in Luke 12:33 declares, "Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth." Losing your life of selfish desires and pleasures is no great loss. Such a life will soon turn to ashes, and become only dust in the wind. Always be mindful that you can only find happiness when you fulfill your purpose for which you were created. Your purpose in life is pleasing God. When you please God, goodness and mercy, the prerequisite of happiness, will follow you all the days of your life.