It’s Your Loss
(Please read Philippians 3:7-21)
Commentary:
Several topics are addressed in the closing of Philippians 3, but the most valuable point he made was about gain and loss. Paul said,
“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things”
“I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ“. He wasn’t trying to impress his readers of his ego or high position in the early church — he was trying to “impress” the early Christians of achieving proper balance in life. Earthly treasures, while exciting, are garbage compared to the glory of God through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Paul was a self-described Pharisee, one of the foremost leaders of the Jewish society at that time. He was extremely well-educated, well-respected, and well-known. Some might have said, he was more infamous than famous due to his maniacal persecution of Christians. Paul was responsible for the torture and death of several early followers of Christ. It was Paul who condemned the disciple Steven to be stoned to death.
Had it not been for Paul’s conversion to Jesus, he probably would have terrorized and slaughtered many more Christians for the rest of his life. Despite all the earthly treasures Paul gained, earned, manipulated, or exploited – it meant nothing. Paul thought he was doing God’s work in his mission to persecute Christians, but he was merely satisfying his own thirst for power and hatred.
Application:
When we give up our own desires and point our lives towards Jesus, we lose nothing and gain everything. We lose temporary treasures and gain an eternal kingdom. Several famous celebrities have publicly admitted that all their fame, glory, and wealth has not made them happy. They’ve talked about shallowness in their lives. It’s not because they haven’t tried to find joy in their stardom — they have. True joy in life must come from something bigger, something permanent. Paul used the time of his life after his conversion to devote to serving Jesus Christ. Can we say our lives are anything close.
What are my key takeaways:
- “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” Are you focusing the energy and passions of your life on big, Christ-like actions or on earthly treasures?
- “Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.” Who do you knowingly or unknowingly follow as your models in life? Pay close attention to this and reflect if you discover the people you emulate are not the best examples.
- Where is the real treasure in your life? Examine this. Do you freely offer sacrifice and giving of your valuable possessions and time — or — do you horde this for yourself? Reflect. Examine. Adjust.
Where else in your life can you live out the teachings of Christ? Look for next week’s Devotion.