"That I might gain Christ" - What 'security' am I willing to lose?
"though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more; circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I might gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith - that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead." Phil. 3:4-11
What are our priorities? What are we willing to lose? What are we willing to let go of? Whose opinion of us matters more? For real, if we are being honest, whom do we wish to please more?
As we look at the examples of the people in the Bible, we realize that we serve a God who works in ways we would consider backwards. They came to an understanding of their need for Jesus, at times, in very unconventional ways. The Philippian jailer listened to two believers singing before his jail was hit with an earthquake. Cornelius had a vision. The Ethiopian Eunuch was reading Isaiah when a man just appeared! Lydia was meeting women for prayer down at the bank of a river. Paul, too, did not come to understand his need of Jesus through what we consider to be traditional evangelism. He was not convicted by sitting under the preaching of the apostles, although I’m sure he was aware of their preaching. The religious leaders stated that Jerusalem was filled with their teaching. He could not get away from it, but he despised it. The love and unity among the believers in Jerusalem, rather than being a source of joyful praise to God, was something that incited hatred and hostility. Their joy was a constant reminder of One who had been a thorn in the sides of the religious establishment.
Paul was among the ‘up and coming’ zealots for the religious establishment. His position was secure. His future certain. He was climbing the religious ladder, set on a course for worldly greatness, fame, and prestige when Christ intersected his path, stood in the road, and blocked his way. His life, too, was turned upside down and following Christ meant the disposal of everything else he had built his identity around.
Three times in the passage at the beginning of the post, Paul mentions what he lost. He gave up a well to do upbringing, the approval of his peers, a good standing among the religious elite, a ‘spotless’ reputation, the pride of his racial background – everything that would propel him and afford him security in the eyes of his peers, everything that would afford him a comfortable and convenient lifestyle. He tossed them in the garbage heap as if they were nothing, and to him they were. To him, there was something greater, something better, something worth giving up everything he had ever worked for in order to attain. And this something was not something you could count, like dollars in a bank. It was not something you could put a price tag on and show off to others, like electronics, homes, vehicles, etc. It did not win him approval, but rather misunderstanding, hatred, scorn, beatings, stoning, imprisonment, false accusations, loss of food, shelter, home, companionship, friends, family. His life that he had painstakingly built was gone. But he gained more than he had ever thought possible - He gained Christ!
What about you? Would you be willing to lay aside your racial citizenship with all its rights and privileges to follow Christ in a place where people hate you? Would you be willing to lay aside the security of your job and income in order to serve 'the least of these'? Would you be willing to become homeless so that you can more easily travel from one place to another to spread the gospel? Would you be willing to not have a place to call 'home' so that others might find an eternal home with Jesus? Is Jesus enough for you?
When the rubber hits the road, one's true beliefs hit the surface. Who you really are comes to the forefront when what you've found your identity in is threatened. Is it a person or a position? Is it a place? What or whom do you find your identity in? Would Christ, is Christ enough for you? Do you truly believe the promises of His presence and provision?
These are questions that I too am having to wrestle with and answer.
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I might gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith - that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead." Phil. 3:4-11
What are our priorities? What are we willing to lose? What are we willing to let go of? Whose opinion of us matters more? For real, if we are being honest, whom do we wish to please more?
As we look at the examples of the people in the Bible, we realize that we serve a God who works in ways we would consider backwards. They came to an understanding of their need for Jesus, at times, in very unconventional ways. The Philippian jailer listened to two believers singing before his jail was hit with an earthquake. Cornelius had a vision. The Ethiopian Eunuch was reading Isaiah when a man just appeared! Lydia was meeting women for prayer down at the bank of a river. Paul, too, did not come to understand his need of Jesus through what we consider to be traditional evangelism. He was not convicted by sitting under the preaching of the apostles, although I’m sure he was aware of their preaching. The religious leaders stated that Jerusalem was filled with their teaching. He could not get away from it, but he despised it. The love and unity among the believers in Jerusalem, rather than being a source of joyful praise to God, was something that incited hatred and hostility. Their joy was a constant reminder of One who had been a thorn in the sides of the religious establishment.
Paul was among the ‘up and coming’ zealots for the religious establishment. His position was secure. His future certain. He was climbing the religious ladder, set on a course for worldly greatness, fame, and prestige when Christ intersected his path, stood in the road, and blocked his way. His life, too, was turned upside down and following Christ meant the disposal of everything else he had built his identity around.
Three times in the passage at the beginning of the post, Paul mentions what he lost. He gave up a well to do upbringing, the approval of his peers, a good standing among the religious elite, a ‘spotless’ reputation, the pride of his racial background – everything that would propel him and afford him security in the eyes of his peers, everything that would afford him a comfortable and convenient lifestyle. He tossed them in the garbage heap as if they were nothing, and to him they were. To him, there was something greater, something better, something worth giving up everything he had ever worked for in order to attain. And this something was not something you could count, like dollars in a bank. It was not something you could put a price tag on and show off to others, like electronics, homes, vehicles, etc. It did not win him approval, but rather misunderstanding, hatred, scorn, beatings, stoning, imprisonment, false accusations, loss of food, shelter, home, companionship, friends, family. His life that he had painstakingly built was gone. But he gained more than he had ever thought possible - He gained Christ!
What about you? Would you be willing to lay aside your racial citizenship with all its rights and privileges to follow Christ in a place where people hate you? Would you be willing to lay aside the security of your job and income in order to serve 'the least of these'? Would you be willing to become homeless so that you can more easily travel from one place to another to spread the gospel? Would you be willing to not have a place to call 'home' so that others might find an eternal home with Jesus? Is Jesus enough for you?
When the rubber hits the road, one's true beliefs hit the surface. Who you really are comes to the forefront when what you've found your identity in is threatened. Is it a person or a position? Is it a place? What or whom do you find your identity in? Would Christ, is Christ enough for you? Do you truly believe the promises of His presence and provision?
These are questions that I too am having to wrestle with and answer.
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