The Christian religion is one in which certain “paradoxes” might be noticed. Jesus said, “Whoever desires to save his life will lose it” (Matt. 16:25)—lose it to save it. “Whoever loses his life for My sake will find it”—if you don’t lose it, then you won’t find it. Paul said, “If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise” (1 Cor. 3:18). “The wisdom of the world is foolishness with God” (3:19), and when man is “wise” enough to realize that, he will denounce the wisdom of the world for the wisdom of God.
Consider this one. “He who humbles himself will be exalted” (Matt. 23:12). The world’s mentality is that, in order to be exalted, one must exalt himself, “looking out for #1, because nobody else is going to look out for you.” But the Lord plainly describes the only “paradoxical” path to the highest success – “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (Jas. 4:10). The only way up is down!