Underwood Unplugged

Nobody really wants to be a loser. To the contrary, most of our culture is obsessed with winning.

Be the best at all costs. Win the race. Look out for #1. Just win, baby.

Unfortunately, most people find victory only on this earth. We only compete to win in the "temporary." Get the grade, the promotion, the girl. Win the game, the prize, the popularity. Gain the fame, the respect, the reward.

Even if you would win every possible earthly lottery, championship, or award, Jesus would follow those victories up with one question: "What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?" (Matthew 16:26).

Actually, that's what most of us human beings do. We forfeit our soul to win more money. We sacrifice the spiritual for the financial. We basically have exchanged the hope of eternity for today's "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

No matter what you achieve, collect, or win - you are going to lose it all in the end. When you leave this world, you will not be able to take it with you.

That should be a wake-up call. It should encourage me to figure out what it means to "win" for the next life. To find out what Jesus means by the "treasures in heaven" we could have.

Are you willing to lose what you have to gain Christ? Are you willing to be a loser if it means "winning" God's approval? In the same conversation, Jesus teaches us that, "Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it."

The only way to find greatness, eternity, and victory in life is if you are willing to lose all that you are to gain all that God wants to offer you. It's time we Christians start to lose ourselves in the quest to follow Someone else.