What it Means to Die to Self

A seed is powerful to produce fruit but it must die to itself, to its uniqueness, to its individuality and to its existence as a seed in order to grow a new plant.  If the seed does not die to itself, then it will remain nothing but a small seed.  If it dies to itself, it will produce a plant making many more seeds for reproduction and food for man, fowl and animals.   

Jesus is comparing our lives to a seed.  If we demand to keep our lives to ourselves and not give up our lives to serve God, then we remain alone.  We will eventually die and nothing of eternal, spiritual value will come from us.  We will lose our life after death because we will be separated from God forever.  In trying to keep our life for ourselves, we end up losing true life.   On the other hand, if we give up our life, that is to say, surrender our life to serve God, then we end up saving our life because we produce much fruit.   

We will die, either now or eternally.  To die to self now is to live eternally.  To live for self now is to die eternally.  If we choose to preserve our existence in selfishness, then we will die eternally.  If we choose to give up our life in selfless service to God, then we will live eternally.  We all have the choice of what to do with our lives.   The choice is life now and death eternally, or, death now and life eternally. 

Following Jesus is pictured as death because we give up our selfish existence.  We don’t live for ourselves anymore; we live for God.   When we decide to follow Jesus, he gives us real life.  He said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).  This abundant life is available to all those who deny their selfishness, “die” to themselves, and follow Jesus.  In doing so, they are like the seed that dies to itself in order to bring forth new life.  This abundant life is also full of joy and purpose!