Martyr Jim Elliot (1927-1956), a missionary to the Auca people in Ecuador, often expressed this classic wisdom: “He is not a fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” I remember a wise old shepherd[1] giving it to me five years ago and I always wondered the source. Now I have found it!
The full quote he gave me went like this… “God’s Word will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from God’s Word. He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” “.
There are endless things that we can never possess in life; one of these, and tea the most significant is to have ultimate control over our lives. However, it seems that we struggled for years, and for many, throughout our lives, not acknowledging this fact, enduring torment. In a way, it’s meaningless and completely meaningless, especially when looking back from an end-of-life perspective.
Jesus said: “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.” -Mark 8.35 (TVNVI).
We’re prone to skipping the fundamentals thinking we’ve got them covered. The interesting thing about this verse above is that it is as difficult and as broad to achieve as it is to achieve anything that Jesus preached during the Sermon on the Mount.
In fact, in a way it sums it all up, as a fundamental unit in the basic program of the life of the follower of Christ.
Think of the total daily surrender of our desires and egoism. Think about reality. There is a divide, a great chasm between the two of us, no matter who we are.
So how do we get there, or is living like Jesus Christ just some kind of ideal? I don’t think Jesus wanted us to think only idealistically. In fact, that’s the Devil’s program, right there! At least one of them.
Assuming we are already believers in Christ, and conceding Jesus’ statement is conditionalitypursuing the ‘lost’ life in order to truly save our life (hence finding she) requires that you consistently give up on our own personal desires, plans and dreams and begin to love others as ourselves. is the perfect search[2] selflessness and wisdom.
And this can never be done overnight. It is a process of practicing the practice for years and decades, beginning with the seconds and the minutes. It’s about training. It is about listening and cooperating with the indwelling Holy Spirit. It is about becoming a professional Christlike human being. And if this is our only goal, all the other things we need will be given to us.[3]
Enter the concept of good faith, and living well before God and with humanity.
When we give up what we cannot keep (our life and control over it) for a lifetime in God, we can keep a portion of eternity (here) as a kind of ‘down payment’ on life saved in eternity (to come) with God, something we cannot lose, as long as we abide in him.[4]I think this is what Jim Elliot meant in his quote at the beginning.
Copyright © 2009, SJ Wickham. All rights reserved throughout the world.
NOTES:
[1] I recognize Pastor John Edwards.
[2] Note the difference here between perfection and a ‘search’. Searching like this is a dedicated investigation, towards spiritual progressnot spiritual perfection.
[3] Matthew 6:33 (TNIV) says: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” What are ‘all these things’? To name a few, this is what we will eat and drink and what we will wear. We can extend this (safely) to any material possession. What we truly need, God will provide.
[4] See John 15:1-17. Jesus’ command to those who ‘abide’ in him… “Love one another.”