I live in Wisconsin; I am a basketball fan…I am thankfully not a Milwaukee Bucks fan. They deservedly finished last in the NBA this season. The owner sold the team, and rumors flew around concerning their relocation. What I find detestable is they will be rewarded by the NBA for finishing last. They will receive a high draft pick for their “efforts.”
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| Tanking? |
Teams that lose on purpose are rewarded. Enter: a LOSE TO GAIN mentality.
As a Christian, this sounds like something I have heard before: Jesus said it himself, “Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.” (Luke 17:33)
That is great “Christianese” language --- what does it mean?
I understand why the Milwaukee Bucks lost games at the end of the season in hopes of providing a better future, but what does it mean for me to lose my life? I know the Christian answer is to “give your life to Christ.” If we do that, then Jesus gives us eternal life in exchange. The transaction is as follows – my life now for eternal life later. Is that what God wants? Is that what we really get?
As I read Philippians 3 this morning, I was struck by something new. Paul lists his ‘old’ accomplishments, and he follows it with a few attention grabbers (3:7-11, NLT)
- “I once thought all these things were so very important…"
- “I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ…”
Paul LOST his sense of importance in worldly measures and achievements. He basically says they are not important to him anymore. For him (and for me), losing my life is to regard my accomplishments or achievements in the same manner – as unimportant.
- “As a result, I can really know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead…”
Paul GAINED something of much greater value: a knowledge and experience of Christ’s power! I read and re-read Phil. 3:10 many times this morning wondering how I missed this before. The point of “losing” isn’t just a simple exchange now for something in the future. LOSING my life means I GAIN something of far greater value NOW and for eternity. That is the Good News!
Perhaps this is exactly how Jesus envisioned that his disciples would experience this: “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)
If life as a Christian is boring, then we are missing the point. “Tanking” my life with a purpose (i.e. “giving it to Jesus”) means we can know and experience the mighty power of God now! I can experience that power every single day to the extent that I set all of the things I once considered important aside. I have considerable work ahead…
Maybe I need to become a Bucks fan…
