Matthew 10:39
Whoever finds his [lower] life will lose it [the higher life], and whoever loses his [lower] life on My account will find it [the higher life]. (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition)

Whoever finds his life will lose the higher life, and whoever loses his lower life on My account will find the higher life.

I don’t know about you, but as for me, I usually read this verse without too much thought, thinking it refers to physical death, but today (10th March 2021) the Lord opened my eyes. (Maybe yours are already open on this verse, but I needed a nudge from the Lord to look again.) What I found was that, yes physical death is included, but the scope of what is written here is greater than what I thought.  Let’s look at what the original Greek words tell us.

Find: heurisko {hyoo-ris'-ko} Strong's {2147}
Definitions: a prolonged form of a primary, hyoo'-ro; which (together with another cognate form, hyoo-reh'-o) is used for it in all the tenses except the personal and imperfect; to find (literal or figurative): - find, get, obtain, perceive, see.

Life: psuche {psoo-khay'} Strong's {5590}
Definitions: from (5594) ; breath, i.e. (by implication) spirit, abstract or concrete (the animal sentient principle only; thus distinguished on the one hand from (4151) , which is the rational and immortal soul; and on the other from (2222) , which is mere vitality, even of plants: these terms thus exactly correspond respectively to the Hebrew {5315} (nephesh), Hebrew {7307} (ruwach) and Hebrew {2416} (chay)): - heart (+ -ily), life, mind, soul, + us, + you.

Lose: apollumi {ap-ol'-loo-mee} Strong's {622}
Definitions: from (575) and the base of (3639) ; to destroy fully (reflexive to perish, or lose), literal or figurative: - destroy, die, lose, mar, perish.

apo: {apo'} Strong's {575}
Definitions: a primary particle; "off," i.e. away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative): - (×here-) after, ago, at, because of, before, by (the space of), for (-th), from, in, (out) of, off, (up-) on (-ce), since, with. In composition (as a prefix) it usually denotes separation, departure, cessation, completion, reversal, etc.

olethros: {ol'-eth-ros} Strong's {3639}
Definitions: from a primary (to destroy; a prolonged form); ruin, i.e. death, punishment: - destruction.

Here we have some insight into what the scripture is telling us, but to me it looks confusing.  I am not Greek or Hebrew Scholar, so I go searching for the truth of The Word from born-again Bible Scholars.  One thing I have learned from them is that the true meaning is not always clear from the English translation: there often being a lack of suitable alternative English words.  Additionally, we always need to look at the context of what is said.  We do this by reading the preceding and proceeding portion of scripture, to whom the words were spoken, and the environment pervading at that time.  When we do this the translation and purpose of what was said starts to become clear.  But most of all we need to take all this information and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth of The Word to us.

So, let’s read Matthew 10:37-40
37 He who loves [and takes more pleasure in] father or mother more than [in] Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves [and takes more pleasure in] son or daughter more than [in] Me is not worthy of Me; 
38 And he who does not take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conforming wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also] is not worthy of Me.
39 Whoever finds his [lower] life will lose it [the higher life], and whoever loses his [lower] life on My account will find it [the higher life].
40 He who receives and welcomes and accepts you receives and welcomes and accepts Me, and he who receives and welcomes and accepts Me receives and welcomes and accepts Him Who sent Me. (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition)

The word “loseth” was translated from the Greek word apollumi, which literally means to release — as to release one’s rights to something. It is the picture of the full surrender of one’s life. But the key is not just forfeiting your own dreams and desires, but rather doing it “for Jesus’ sake.”  (Rick Renner)

Jesus promised, “…He that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” The word “find” is the Greek word heurisko, which means to find or to discover, and it is where we get the word eureka! This word pictures the euphoric feeling a person experiences when he discovers something magnificent. His heart and soul, and perhaps even his mouth, exclaim, “Eureka!” It is the jubilant expression of one who shouts out, “I found it!”  (Rick Renner)

So, Jesus was not just talking about physical death, He was also talking about dying to self;  giving up the very thing that causes you to wake up and breathe each day – job, profession, pursuits, family, etc. – to follow His purpose for your life.  The rich young man  struggled with making this decision. 

Matthew 19:21-23
21 Jesus answered him, If you would be perfect [that is, have that spiritual maturity which accompanies self-sacrificing character], go and sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; and come, be My disciple [side with My party and follow Me].
22 But when the young man heard this, he went away sad (grieved and in much distress), for he had great possessions.
23 And Jesus said to His disciples, Truly I say to you, it will be difficult for a rich man to get into the kingdom of heaven. (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition)

I recently read the account of one person who was called to leave all he had and move to what at that time was a very poor communist country. He was married, had a young family and a very successful Ministry and Church in the USA.  Nevertheless, they decided to give up their comfy life in the USA to do the will of God.  Things were tough but they rejoiced in it and kept focus on their God-given mission.  Decades on, they have a Ministry that is far greater than what they left behind and have touched the lives of millions of people with the truth of the gospel.  They released (apollumi) their old life and in return found (heurisko) a new, better and eternally rewarding life.

We are not all called to quit our job, sell up and move to some other place in the world where destiny awaits.  For most of us, our destiny awaits us where we live.  The key is obeying the leading of the Holy Spirit.  Having a job, family at home or within close range, competing demands on our time, etc, etc, can present difficult challenges when the Holy Spirit is leading us to stop and do something.  The number of things the Holy Spirit could ask us to do are as many as the number of needs around us.  Here are just a few examples:

• Calling a person from Church to see how they are.

• Help someone with a task they must do.

• Share what God’s been doing in your life.

• Prepared a word to share.  (Sometimes less is more!)

• Encourage someone in the Lord.

• Witness to someone.

• Visit someone in need of company and/or encouragement.

The list goes on and on.

We all have a God-given ability.  Like any ability, you must exercise it to maintain a standard and improve it.  It’s so easy for us to say, “I’ll leave it for another day”, “so and so will do it, they always do” or “I wasn’t sure”, and any other excuse that comes to mind.  The more we say no to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, the harder our hearts become, till in the end we become desensitised. God doesn’t give up on us, (“The gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” Romans 11:29) but our position leads us into difficulty -physical, spiritual or both- and the Lord uses this to encourage us back to the place where we should be.  God is not a dictator, He will not force us to do His will, but He will use His Love (God is Love) to draw us back in line. 

The decision to apollumi in order to heurisko is in our hands.  I pray we will all apollumi with joy in our hearts.

Blessings in Jesus Christ.
André