Gaining the Higher Life

By Neil T. Anderson 

  We sacrifice the lower life to gain the higher life. Jesus told the disciples that “the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up the third day” (Luke 9:22). Matthew recorded that, “Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, ‘God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.’ But He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interest, but man's. (Matthew 6:22,23). 

This memorable rebuke seems mercilessly severe, yet even the crediting of Satan as the source describes exactly and appropriately the character of the advice given by Peter. “Save yourself at any rate; sacrifice duty to self-interest, the cause of Christ to personal convenience.” This advice is truly satanic in principle, for the whole aim of Satan is to get self-interest recognized as the chief end of man. Satan is called the “prince of this world” because self-interest rules this fallen world. Man unwittingly serves Satan because he is deceived into thinking he is serving self. Jesus counters by sharing the way of the cross, the foundational principle for life in Christ: the repudiation of our natural lives. 

The cross also calls us to sacrifice the temporal in order to gain the eternal. Martyred missionary Jim Elliot said it well: “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep in order to gain what he cannot lose.” We don’t have a lack of money in our western world; we have a lack of contentment. Paul says, “Godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content” (1 Timothy 6:6-8). 

Don’t Worry About Tomorrow  To help us live anxiety-free, Jesus first dealt with our possessions. Now He deals with our provisions. The materialist struggles with the first, the doubter with the second. The real question is whether we trust God. Jesus said: For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? (Matthew 6:26). 

Trusting God for tomorrow is a question of our worth. Birds are not created in the image of God, but we are! Birds will not inherit the kingdom of God, but we will. If God takes care of the birds, so much more will He take care of us. Observe the lilies of the field: Trusting God for tomorrow is a question of our worth. Birds are not created in the image of God, but we are! Birds will not inherit the kingdom of God, but we will. If God takes care of the birds, so much more will He take care of us. Observe the lilies of the field:

If God so arrays the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow, is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more do so for you, O men of little faith? Do not be anxious then” (Matthew 6:30,31). Trusting God for tomorrow is a question of our worth. Birds are not created in the image of God, but we are! Birds will not inherit the kingdom of God, but we will. If God takes care of the birds, so much more will He take care of us. Observe the lilies of the field: If God so arrays the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow, is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more do so for you, O men of little faith? Do not be anxious then” (Matthew 6:30,31). 

   God lays His own reputation on the line. If we will trust and obey Him, He will provide. This is a question of God’s integrity. Does He care for us, and will He provide for our needs? “Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things…. Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:32,34). He is asking us to trust Him and take one day at a time. 

The essential will of God is that we live responsibly today by faith and trust God for tomorrow. Are we people of little faith or do we believe the fruit of the Spirit will satisfy us more than earthly possessions? Do we really believe that if we hunger and thirst after righteousness, we shall be satisfied? If we seek to establish God’s kingdom, will God supply all our needs according to His riches in glory? If we believe these things, then we will “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).   

About the Author:  

Neil T. Anderson was formerly the chairman of the Practical Theology Department at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University. In 1988 he founded Freedom in Christ Ministries, which now has staff and offices in various countries of the world.  In 2001 Dr. Anderson stepped down as FICM’s president, and he officially retired in May 2005 in order to start Discipleship Counseling Ministries. The purpose of his new ministry is to give greater focus to his speaking and writing ministry and allow more flexibility to serve others without financial constraints.