August 12

Lost, Yet Found

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. — Matt 16:25 BSB

It may seem like saving one’s life to live for self-interest, avoiding self-denial and sacrifice, and focusing on accumulating comfort, pleasure, and power. But when this is our motive, we are actually throwing our lives away. This is the deep meaning behind Christ’s words: Self-seeking is self-losing. We haven’t truly learned how to live until we’ve learned to live for Christ. What we keep for ourselves, we lose; what we give away is what we really keep. Selfishness is not only a sin—it’s spiritual death.

Jesus tells us that the way to save our lives is to lose them. Christ Himself lost His life, pouring it out in loving sacrifice for others. It seemed like a waste, but was it? He found life again, in even greater glory. Paul gave up everything for Christ, endured immense suffering, and ultimately gave his life for Him. Did Paul lose anything by his sacrifices? A young woman, beautiful and privileged, turned away from a life of ease and luxury to teach freed slaves. She gave her life in service to them and eventually died from illness. Her friends said, “What a waste of such a precious life!” But was it really wasted?

Everyone who follows Christ must choose between saving and losing their life—between living for self or living for Christ. We may never be called to make great sacrifices, but being ready to make them is part of our commitment as disciples. And yet, in losing our lives, we save them. It’s like sowing golden wheat in the ground, losing it for a time, only to reap a rich harvest later.