“You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19b-20
As believers, we ourselves and our lives are not our own because we have been saved by the purchasing power of Christ’s blood. Because got made us and bought us, we are His. God made us to glorify Him. My purpose in life is to glorify God…this gives me meaning to live by and for each day.
Piper reminds his readers that God’s glory and our own personal joy are not two separate things. He says,
“It was not always plain to me that pursuing God’s glory would be virtually the same as pursing my joy. Now I see that millions of people waste their lives because they think these paths are two and not one.” (pg. 9)
How often do people reject the Gospel because they do not want to feel trapped or burdened down by serving the Lord? Yes, it is true—according to Jesus’ very own words in Matthew 10:39—that giving our lives to Jesus and seeking Him and His joy will cost us our whole lives. BUT, Christ says in Matthew 10:39, “Whoever loses his life for my sake and the Gospel’s will save it.” The paradox of the Gospel is perfectly portrayed in this verse. We become slaves to God and yet find total freedom in Him.
I can either choose to lose my life for Christ and live fully under His rule or I can waste my entire life living for myself. In the moment, living for myself might seem great, but all of those temporary pleasures will quickly flee when I stand at the end of life before God; it will be evident then that living for myself was a complete waste.
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