Self-denial Is a Sure Path to Victory

If we, believers, will have good success as promised us in the word of God and also fulfill our destinies, then we must be able to deny ourselves of some things such that self-denial becomes a part of our lives. Self-denial is denying one's self of something that one can give one's self. It is exercising your will against your flesh thereby compelling it to learn discipline without which one would also fail. So many things beckon to us in life that will ultimately not work good for us but as we learn to deny ourselves, we are able to connect even more with our God. If we must walk with God successfully enjoying all the benefits that are our portion, then we would have to learn to say no to ourselves especially in those tough times when God's desire is different from our desire and we feel strongly the need to follow our desire; those times when we feel compelled to put another person's desire above ours because that is what God would rather that we do.

Mark 8: 34-35 "Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it."

So the dictionary describes denial as sacrifice of one's wants or needs. In truth, it is turning from selfish ways where one's decisions are no longer instigated by how they feel but what God desires. It is going up to the level where it is no longer "our will but His will be done in our lives." Our faith calls for sacrifice. There is a price to pay for the benefits that we receive. In Christ, you don't pay the price to receive but you are required to give back for what you receive that you may then receive more. His gifts come with responsibilities and/or obligations which I refer to as price to be paid. If you will not take on the responsibilities then you may loose that which you have; according to scriptures, it will be given to those who took their responsibility seriously. We cannot afford to bury that which He gives us but we would have to deny ourselves if we must multiply them. With God, if you must get more or go higher, you will at some point be required to give up things.

Mathew 25: 29 "To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away."

As believers, we know that good success is our portion. We get frustrated and angry with God whenever it seems like success is eluding us but the question is what are we willing to give up that we might have this good success which is written into our future? It is never convenient when it has to do with God because it would call for a sacrifice. Some people struggle with denying themselves because they were hardly denied anything as children while some others just feel that they earned the right to have whatever they want despite what God days. Whatever your excuse maybe, the thing to have at the back of your mind is the fact that God has put in your hands the power to be truly blessed or fail; furthermore, sad as this may sound, inability to deny one's self may ultimately cause a believer to end up in hell.

Mathew 25: 30 "Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

I would like to suggest that self-denial was a major part of Cain's problem. He could not be bothered to get for God that which asked for. It was just not convenient. Since God wanted a sacrifice, he did not see why his farm produce was not good enough for God who already stated what he preferred. Going out of his way to get for God that which He wanted was certainly stressful to him. He was one of those who felt God should continue to accept Him just the way He is. It is true that He saves us the way we are but He desires that we then yield ourselves that we may be changed to become like Him. There is a cross to carry, for every believer; to carry the cross requires us to deny ourselves.