"He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life." (John 12:25)

"A real Christian is an odd number, anyway. He feels supreme love for One who he has never seen; talks familiarly every day to Someone he cannot see; expects to go to heaven on the virtue of Another; empties himself in order to be full; admits he is wrong so he can be declared right; goes down in order to get up; is strongest when he is weakest; richest when he is poorest and happiest when he feels the worst. He dies so he can live; forsakes in order to have; gives away so he can keep; sees the invisible, hears the inaudible, and knows that which passeth knowledge." (From A.W. Tozer)

He who loves life (who selfishly seeks to please himself) will lose it, but he who hates his life (who denies himself and willingly takes up his cross and follows Christ) will keep his life for the eternal rest.