October 13

Two Ways of Living

Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. — John 12:25 BSB

We have a choice in how we live. We can live for ourselves, taking care to avoid risks, not making sacrifices, and looking out for our own interests. By doing this, we might prosper in the world, and people may praise us for our wisdom and success. We may reach old age with health intact, enjoying the honors and possessions we’ve accumulated. This is one way to live, and while it may seem appealing, it’s like a grain of wheat that’s kept safe in storage and never sown in the ground. The life may be well-preserved, but it remains alone and unfruitful. It has not blessed anyone, glorified God, fed the hungry, or earned any eternal reward. This is the result of a life lived for self—"He who loves his life will lose it."

The other way to live is to forget self, not worrying about one’s own life, but giving it away in obedience to God and in service to others. People might say you’re wasting your life by sacrificing it for others or for Christ’s cause. But was Christ foolish when He went to the cross? Let the redeemed Church answer that. Were the martyrs foolish when they gave their lives for Christ? Ignatius, facing death in the arena, said, “I am the grain of God. Let me be ground between the teeth of lions if I may thus become bread to feed God’s people.” Were their lives wasted? Is any life wasted if it becomes the seed that later feeds the world? The way to make nothing of your life is to cling to it selfishly. The way to make your life a success for eternity is to do as Christ did with His.