The Great Paradox

“He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.” John 12:25

Loves – Jesus reveals the paradox of life on earth.  But we won’t understand it unless we know the words he uses for “love” and “hate”.  It’s all about relationships.

The word “love” is the English translation of four different Greek words.  Knowing which Greek word is being translated makes a big difference.  In this case, the word is phileo, the love of brotherly affection, the love of friendship.  So, when Jesus says, “He who loves his life” he means the one who makes his own life a matter of highest affection, of prized friendship.  We might not realize just how subtle such friendship really is until we take a very hard look at our behavior, not our beliefs.

How does your behavior show what you really value?  Consider these circumstances:

Do you spend time more time conversing with the God who loves you or watching television?

Do you actually visit the sick and the imprisoned or do you just put money in the offering and leave the actions to someone else?

Is Sunday a holy day set aside for quiet reflection on God’s goodness or is it just a break before Monday?

Do you speak as though every word reflects the character of God in truth or are your words a matter of what’s convenient at the moment?

Do the first fruits of your labor go first to His kingdom by meeting the needs of others He puts in your path or do you give last and only when there’s enough?

Do you really pray for your enemies?

Do you thank God every day for your life just as it is?

Perhaps these few questions are enough to start us on the path of critical self-examination.  Jesus demands this kind of “counting the cost” if we are going to follow him.

We say what we believe but we do what we value.  We do what we love.  How friendly are you with the life of this world?