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He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. (Mat 10:39)

Our earthly lives are but fuel to be spent to further the Kingdom of Heaven. We should do as Paul and think of our life as coal to the furnace, wood for the fire, gasoline to the automobile. For the Kingdom of Heaven to go forward we must be SPENT. To be spent means to be used up, finished, consumed, to wear away. It simply does not mean to build a kingdom or name for ourselves here on the earth. We are not to think of ourselves as mighty conquerors and superheroes defeating evil on every hand, but as simply a little bit of energy, strength, and life that can be spent to help further God’s purpose and work.

“Ye are the light of the world....” It is very simple to understand that for a light to shine something must be consumed. A lantern shines, but only until the kerosene is depleted. A flashlight will give its light until the batteries are used up. A candle burns, but it is melted and used up in the process. When it is over there is nothing left of the candle. There are no trophies and awards there. There is no deed to an empire that the candle built while it was shining. All that is left is a puddle of melted wax. It served its purpose by being spent to give light to those who happened to be in its presence. By being spent and used up it may it possible for those around it to SEE. As John the Baptist said:

He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30

We are at God’s disposal to use as He pleases. He knows how to manage his resources well, and how to produce the best results. If He chooses to spend you in what appears to be an insignificant way, you should be willing to let Him have His way and do His will. Whatever he does with your life will most likely be unknown to you — at least in the present. He must keep it from us because that is best for us. There are many times when the way God uses us may seem a complete waste to others. We may even entertain that thought ourselves. But take time to think about all the martyrs such as John and Betty Stam, who spent years preparing to go to China as missionaries and were both killed within 2 months of arriving there. All Jesus’ disciples died violent deaths (except John, and he was exiled with the idea that he couldn’t influence anyone else that way). Adoniram Judson — seven years without winning a soul, wives and children, and he himself died on the mission field. There are many Bible examples: Joseph, Moses, Jeremiah, Michaiah, Hosea, and Jesus himself, who spent their lives in God’s service amid much suffering and sacrifice. Who is willing to say that any of these lives were wasted, now that we can see more of God’s plan and what he was doing with their lives? God’s ways are not our ways and his thoughts are far above ours.

(Prov 23:26) "My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways."

A man desires the heart of his wife, not just her compliance with his wishes. Likewise, God wants our HEART – not just our mechanical obedience. The Old Testament sacrifices were meant to affect the heart. The New Testament animal sacrifice is ourselves – our own life. (Ro. 12.1)

(Luke 14:33) "So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple."

All means ALL…

It means our most cherished possessions. It means our most cherished desires. It means whatever other love we have in our hearts (children, wife, etc.) God must be FIRST.

He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. (Mat 10:39)

To lose your life means to destroy fully, to perish. You will never understand what the work of God is about until you lose your life. It is certain that those who haven’t lost their life will not understand someone who has. It is also certain that those who look at success or failure through worldly minds and reasoning will count those who have lost their lives a waste and a failure. It is just as certain that those who have lost their lives are the ONLY ones who find their lives and see what it is all about.

Mike Miller
(3/26/2006)

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