KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 16:25 (KJV). “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”

The Lord taught that those who loved their lives and try to preserve it would lose it. Those who decide to lose their lives for the course of Christ would rather save their lives. We would compare some cases in the word of God.

1. Abraham and Lot. Genesis 13

In this story Abraham the uncle of Lot found his servants striving with those of Lot over land. He gave Lot the opportunity to choose first. He selfishly chose the best land instead of rather allowing Abraham to choose first.  The land he chose was Sodom and Gomorrah. He was later captured by some kings who attacked the land and later lost every livelihood since the land was destroyed by God, because of their grievous sins. Abraham rather fought the kings who took him captive to rescue him. Abraham again prayed for God to save him from being destroyed with the people of Sodom.

•  Lot and his wife. -Genesis 19

In this incident the angels of God asked Lot and his family to escape from Sodom without looking back. When the city was on fire Lot’s wife looked back, because of her love for herself and the things she was losing. She became a pillar of salt. Lot who did not love those things but valued the word of God did not look back and so was preserved.

• David and king Saul.  1 Samuel 17

At this time Israel was at war with the Philistines. Goliath challenged and defiled the armies of Israel for forty days whiles king Saul fearing for his life and trying to save it could not stand up to him. This act caused him to lose the high regard his people had for him. David came to the battle, yet as a shepherd boy decided to put his life at stake to save the name and image of God which was being so shamefully ridiculed and defiled by the uncircumcised Philistine. He engaged him in a battle, killed him, saved his life, and was brought into a great prominence in Israel, because he did not love his life.

 SOME further examples are

.

• Queen Esther in Esther 3,4
• King Asa in 2 Kings 14-16
• Judas in John 13:27, Matt 27:5

Conclusion: Those who love their lives lose it. Whiles those who lose their lives for Christ’s sake save it.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, I pray that your spirit will cause all who read this message to take a firm stance for you and never fear for their lives.

FURTHER STUDIES

Matthew 16:26 (KJV). “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Matthew 27:4-5 (KJV). Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.  And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.