Ever hear this adage – “One person’s garbage is another person’s treasure”?
Now I’m not advocating “dumpster diving” – but it’s true. What one person throws away, another person may find valuable.
On the other hand, a person may throw away and discard what they once treasured. In my Bible reading today, that apparently is what Apostle Paul said he did… He took the adage I opened this devotional reflection with, and turned it on its head! In fact, his adage might have gone like this: “What I once treasured I came to consider loss!”
Here it is right out of the Bible: Philippians 3:7–11 (ESV)
“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 may 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. (Philippians 3:7–11 ESV)
All the accomplishments in life, all the position and prestige, all the devoted pursuit of righteousness through religious rigor, came to mean nothing to Paul because of “the surpassing worth of knowing Christ!” Or as the NET version of the Bible translates it, “I regard all things as liabilities compared to the far greater value of knowing Christ Jesus!”
I identify with Paul’s assessment of what matters in life – I embrace it! And with the help and reminders of the Holy Spirit, I intend to guard my heart and examine my values to keep Jesus first! How about you?
Coffee With The Lord 