Philippians 3:7-9; Balance Sheet

“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 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 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.”

Paul was an achiever, maybe even an over-achiever.  He was probably president of his senior class, member of every club and committee, and voted most likely to become High Priest.  He spent his life climbing the religious ladder, reached the top, and realized that the religious ladder didn’t reach God.  Actually, Paul didn’t realize that – Jesus had to get his attention.  Paul remained blind to the truth until Christ blinded him.

At some level, we all need to be knocked in the dirt by Jesus to break us from our performance-based faith.  That term is a bit oxymoronic – if it is “performance-based”, it isn’t much of a faith – but I think you know what I mean.  When Paul emerged from his hotel room after Ananias laid hands on him to restore his sight; Paul was a new man.  I often wonder what conversations Christ had with Paul during those sightless, but insightful days.

Whatever else happened, we know that the direction of Paul’s life changed.  He went from persecuting Jesus to preaching Jesus.  Paul looked at all of his hard-earned accomplishments that had allowed him to rise through the ranks of Judaism and he tossed them in the trash.  All his gain he now considered loss – a waste of time.  He lost all things to gain the one thing that mattered: Jesus.

Does that sound familiar?  Jesus told a story about a man who found a treasure in a field.  He went home, sold all he had, returned and purchased the field.  Ditto for the pearl of great price.  When you find the only thing that matters, the only logical thing is to give up whatever it takes, even everything you have, to acquire it.

Have you realized that Jesus is the ONLY thing that matters?  Or are you still chasing after things that you think will bring you happiness or peace or approval or whatever it is that your soul desperately needs?  By the way, what you are chasing is probably the very thing that is getting in the way of your relationship with Jesus.

Because of Christ, we don’t have to be an achiever – in fact, we cannot be an achiever.  We cannot achieve anything when Christ has already achieved everything for us on the cross.  Compared to the work of Christ, our good works are good only for the trash.  And that is a good thing!

“(Paul’s) balance-sheet has on one side ‘all things lost,’ on the other ‘Christ gained,’ and that is profitable trading.” – Alexander MacLaren

PS - In and of themselves, things (success, finances, relationships, accomplishments, etc.) are not bad.  Things become bad when you place your value and worth in them instead of in Christ.  Our souls will never be satisfied until Christ is the most important thing in our lives.  The world is too much with us…