Biblical Answer

The Question: What's the point of living if I've lost everything?

The Value of Losing Everything

When we've lost everything, it can be difficult to find meaning in life. The world often tells us that our worth is tied to what we have, and when those things are taken away, we feel empty and lost. However, the Bible teaches us that true fulfillment and happiness come not from what we possess, but from our relationship with God. In Philippians 3:8, Paul writes, "What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things." Paul is saying that everything else in life is secondary to our relationship with Christ. He is confident that even in the midst of loss and suffering, God is with him and will never leave him (Hebrews 13:5).

The Freedom of Losing Ourselves

Losing everything can be a difficult and painful experience, but it can also be a liberating one. When we lose our possessions, our status, and our sense of self-worth, we are forced to confront the emptiness of a life lived solely for ourselves. We begin to realize that our true identity is not found in what we have, but in who we are in Christ. As Jesus said, "Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it" (Mark 8:35). This means that we must be willing to let go of our own desires, our own ambitions, and our own sense of self-importance in order to find true freedom and happiness. When we lose ourselves in the service of Christ and others, we find our true selves and discover the joy and satisfaction of living for something greater than ourselves.

The Gain of Losing

So, what's the point of living if we've lost everything? The point is not to regain what we've lost, but to find new life in Christ. When we lose everything, we are forced to confront the emptiness of a life lived solely for ourselves. We are given the opportunity to rediscover our true purpose and to find meaning and fulfillment in our relationship with God. As Paul says, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21). This means that even in the midst of loss and suffering, we can find joy, peace, and satisfaction in knowing that we are living for something greater than ourselves. We can find freedom from the emptiness and dissatisfaction of a life lived solely for ourselves, and discover the true meaning and purpose of life in Christ. In the end, losing everything can be a gain, not a loss, because it allows us to find our true selves and our true purpose in life.