Consider the threefold disciplines of fasting, giving, and prayer, which Christ addresses in Matthew 6:1-18. Fasting is denying ourselves the pleasure of eating in order to gain pleasure in God. Giving is denying the possession of riches to gain possessions from God. Prayer is denying our own power in order to gain power from God.
One need not forgo power because they hate power. They may forgo it now precisely because they want it in a better world. Jesus didn't tell His disciples they shouldn't want to be great, but that they could become great in the next world by being a servant in this one. Jesus didn't tell His disciples they shouldn't be rich. Rather, He told them they should become rich in the next world. It's not a matter of no gratification but delayed gratification.
This is not self-denial for its own sake, but purposeful self-denial for God's glory and their own ultimate good. The key to this self-denial is faith. Faith is what motivates us to forgo something in this life for the promise that it - or an even higher form - will be ours in the next.
One need not forgo power because they hate power. They may forgo it now precisely because they want it in a better world. Jesus didn't tell His disciples they shouldn't want to be great, but that they could become great in the next world by being a servant in this one. Jesus didn't tell His disciples they shouldn't be rich. Rather, He told them they should become rich in the next world. It's not a matter of no gratification but delayed gratification.
This is not self-denial for its own sake, but purposeful self-denial for God's glory and their own ultimate good. The key to this self-denial is faith. Faith is what motivates us to forgo something in this life for the promise that it - or an even higher form - will be ours in the next.
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