Self denial
23 – “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
24 – For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
25 – For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
26 – For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.” (Luke chapter 9 verses 23 to 26)
Life is built on purpose and it is an individual’s responsibility to see such purpose come into fulfillment.
Self denial calls for a price. It could be as costly as whatever you may think of but it will build you right, places you on the right path of destiny and enables you fulfill destiny. Self is the greatest enemy of mankind. I believe you do hear people say as often as you are speaking with them say, ‘My self,’ People who always talk about themselves, always think about themselves. They never talk much about purpose and its fulfillment.
When self is enthroned, it can blindfold one from having the right view of discovering his or her true purpose and living his or her life to fulfill destiny. Self cares about the things that pleases it. Self makes one thinks that life is all about eat and sleep, get up, make use of the rest room and continue sleeping till it is time for the next meal. Self makes people believe that life is about catching and making fun. Life is beyond just catching fun. Life is built on purpose and it is an individual’s responsibility to see such purpose come into fulfillment.
You must understand the key to your success and advancement in life lies in your decision to self denial.
Apparently self denial calls for a huge price. It will as well pay greatly if one effectively yield him or herself to it. The price to self denial will separate you from the crowd. You have to understand the place of being alone. You have to understand that it is not everywhere you are meant to go or be. You must understand that it is not everyone you have to give attention to. You must understand that everyone is never made for you.
You must understand you are not made for everyone. You must understand there are specific people you do not need their association. You must understand that the wrong association has what it takes to destroy and elude one from living and fulfilling purpose. You must understand the key to your success and advancement in life lies in your decision to self denial.
If you desire the place to the top of your endeavour, you must understand the role of self denial.
There is no one who ever aimed to be successful in life who does not understand the place of self denial. When life is so surrounded with pleasure, it can lead to self destruction. If life is all about pleasure, where is the place of self discipline. Self denial calls for restrictions in one’s life which will enable him or her to think right, decide right and to act right. No one can do anything great without first of all understand the concept of self denial. What great people do daily, that is what ordinary people do occasionally.
Self denial calls for high level of self discipline. One of the greatest keys to success and succeed in life is self denial. One of the greatest keys to success in business is self denial. One of the greatest keys to success in marriage is self denial. One of the greatest keys to success in career is self denial. One of the greatest keys to success in church growth and ministry is self denial. One of the greatest keys to success and succeed in any field or affairs of life is self denial. If you desire the place to the top of your endeavour, you must understand the role of self denial.
Anyone who is not willing to yield for self denial, is not yet ready for the course to fulfilling destiny.
Why is self denial so important in the life of anyone, it is because man is selfish and self centred. If he does not acquire self denial through self discipline, he might think life and purpose fulfillment is all about him and his household. Of course, there is no aspect of discipline that is pleasant at first, but in the long run, one will derive the huge dividends that accompany any aspects of discipline.
Think about someone who decides to lose weight. It is never easy going go the gym on a daily basis for exercise. But the discipline he or she has posed upon him or herself as a results to self denial, will help him or her gain the desired result. Nothing in life goes for nothing. The path to greatness is tied with self denial. One must pay the price first, before he or she can receive profit. Anyone who is not willing to yield for self denial, is not yet ready for the course to fulfilling destiny.
“But [like a boxer] I buffet my body [handle it roughly, discipline it by hardships] and subdue it, for fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel and things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit [not stand the test, be unapproved and rejected as a counterfeit].” (1Corianthians chapter 9 verses 27 AMP)
Conclusion:
“Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.” (John chapter 10 verses 17)
God loves sacrifice. Jesus humbled Himself by laying down His life.
Man was tempted by the devil, but the devil was tempted by self. People do not do things until they find a reason why they should. That is why you hear them say I. So ‘I’ which is connected to self is the problem in everything both in marriage, church, business, career and the society at large.
