This Life Versus Eternal Life

John 12:25 says, "The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life." Here is some strong commentary from the People's Bible on John:

When Jesus warns against loving our lives, he means putting this earthly life first. It's a warning against self-centeredness. Those who put all their affection on this life and what they can get out of it will one day die and lose it all. When Jesus speaks of hating our lives in this world, he means putting him and the life he gives first. When we believe in Jesus and have eternal life in him, worldly living loses its attraction. Everything worldly carries sin's taint and becomes hateful. Only in Jesus does the good life, eternal life, become ours. It would be better to lose this earthly life than to lose Jesus. We guard our spiritual lives when we follow Jesus.