“Whoever seeks to gain his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will preserve it.”
Luke 17:33
In the Great Commission Jesus said to go and preach the gospel, teaching the people to obey. Revelation demands a response. God expects us to obey what He reveals to us. As we study His revelation we find that some of what He says appears illogical, forming an impediment to our application.
Jesus said that if you wish to preserve your life you must lose it. The Savior told His disciples, “So the last will be first, and the first last.” Again He said, “Give and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” He said that if you wish to be a leader, the way to obtain your goal is to serve others.
From the perspective of most, we would be foolish to commit ourselves to such a world view. Everyone wants to live, but who wants to die? We may wish to lead, but it appears irrational to conclude that the way to obtain your objective is to serve. Walking by faith is risk taking, and unless we are willing to take the risk of obedience, we will be selective in our application of God’s word. Selective application, however, ensures we never receive the desires of our heart. If we want to receive, we must give. God will have it no other way.
