But what does it mean to lose one’s life in order to save it? It means giving up a self-centered life and living a Christ-centered life instead. Jesus Christ is the goal of life. He bought us with His blood; we belong to Him, and we no longer live for ourselves but for Him who died for us. As Paul said, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Phil 1:21).
The focus is no longer on the earthly and temporal, but on the heavenly and eternal. One lives for what has eternal value. Jim Elliot said it very aptly: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” A wise saying!
Jim Elliot and many martyrs in church history actually lost their lives because they served Christ and remained faithful to Him, and for that, they will receive a great reward!
Even though most of us will probably not die as martyrs, we too are challenged by Jesus’ words. To lose one’s self-centered life in order to save or gain true life has to do with self-denial and sacrifice. Think of an athlete training for the Olympics. He makes great sacrifices to win a medal. He gives up everything that prevents him from performing well. Whether he eats, drinks, or sleeps, he does everything to achieve his goal in the best possible way. If people do this for an earthly medal, how much more self-denial and sacrifice should we show for our heavenly crowns!
Paul lived this way. In Philippians 3, he says that he gave up everything that prevented him from following Christ. Christ had become so great and important to him that he considered everything else to be rubbish. He was also willing to make great sacrifices in his service to the Lord. That is why he says: “But I do not consider my life of any value to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I have received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24).
In this context, we can say that the main principles of Christian life are self-denial and complete surrender to God.We no longer use our homes just for ourselves, but open them to others. We do not live to be served, but to serve others.
Now, you might think that someone who does not use their time for themselves apparently has nothing in life and therefore loses it. But in reality, godliness—being focused on God and filled with Him—has the promise of life, and that is true both now and in the future (1 Timothy 4:8). Living a life of discipleship leads to a meaningful, fruitful life—and to a life that is most rewarded.
It is also interesting what the New Testament says about the rich. Paul urges Timothy to tell them: “To do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may take the life that is truly life” (1 Tim. 6:19–20). It is about making present sacrifices for future rewards and the enjoyment of eternal and heavenly things—that is real life!
Furthermore, Paul says that Timothy should lay hold of eternal life. That is a powerful thought. It means that he should live consciously in relationship with the Father and the Son and in the enjoyment of that fellowship. That is true life in abundance. We will enjoy eternal life to the extent that we are willing to deny our natural life and follow Christ consistently!
The question we can all ask ourselves is: Have I given up my old life? Do I deny myself, make sacrifices for others, and live consistently for Christ out of gratitude for what He has done for me? Or am I focused on chasing after the life that I will surely lose in the end, or am I embracing the true life that remains and is found in devotion and service to Christ?
“For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it” (Mark 8:35).
