Life Paradox

“Anyone finding His life will lose it, and anyone losing his life because of Me will find it.” (Matthew 10:39)

It seems odd that the key to a life of fulfillment is found in a paradox. A paradox is a truth that cannot be true but actually is true. It appears contradictory and non-sensical but is actually true. The perception of that truth takes place after some in-depth reflection.

Jesus stated such a paradox in this verse, “Anyone finding his life will lose it, and anyone losing his life because of Me will find it.” How on earth does it make any sense that if you find your life you lose it? One point of view says in fact that seeking and finding your life is what life is all about. Humanly speaking, that is the only thing that makes sense.

The idea is that if you focus your life’s purpose on yourself, your identity, your lifestyle, your needs, and your desires and find all of that as your source of fulfillment, you will miss the point of life altogether. At the end of the day when you have all that, what do you have? You have you, and that’s all. So, how on earth could that be a life of fulfillment?

By the same token, how on earth can losing your life because of Jesus result in finding your life? How does that make any sense? Well, follow the same line of thinking as above. If your replace your own life’s purpose of finding your own life with giving your life to the Lord in the fulfillment of His purposes for you and through you, you then discover what the true purpose of your life is – to glorify Him through a personal, faith-based relationship with Him. He completes your life. So, how on earth could that not make sense? In fact, it does make sense.

Finders losers, losers finders. It may sound odd, but it’s true. Jesus is the One who makes it that way.

Lord, In You we have found life in abundance. Help us to live it today. Amen.