“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” – Philippians
3:8 (ESV)
Summarize in a Word: What is your pursuit?
Key Principle: Christ surpasses everything!
Key Application: Pursue Christ
Main point of the Passage: Anything
and everything apart from Christ is Rubbish.
Illustration: Paul’s worldly achievement as dung
Exhortation: Think about the riches, glories, and power of Christ for those who pursue Him.
All of
us are in pursuit of something in life. We live on earth, we must work for our
living; but we must be more concerned about
our eternal living. There are many means to live on earth morally or immorally,
poorly or richly; but there is only one means
to live eternally – through Jesus Christ. Our life on earth looks pale in all
measures in comparison to eternal life.
Paul
writes in Philippians 3:8 that anything and everything of our pursuit in life
apart from Christ is rubbish. The word ‘rubbish’ is literally a dung. Who among us wants to pursue after dung? It is not only a
loss, waste but also a burden to throw
away once we achieve it. It is a way of a fool.
More seriously, it is a way of death – damnation! Have you considered Christ? Would you count the cost of
not following Him?
Paul
speaks from his exceptional experience of worldly achievements without Christ.
He continues to consider it as a loss
even after becoming an apostle of Christ because Christ surpasses everything
the world could offer. The word ‘count/consider’ is an ongoing, continuous
action. It is what he prioritizes and values above all things. It is a
life-long pursuit. The Lord says in Mark 8:36 that there is no gain if we gain the whole world but lose our souls.
Should
we not consider everything as rubbish and deadly when it draws away our devotion to Christ? Must we not readily suffer to
gain His approval than the approval of the world? Think about the riches,
glories, and power of Christ for those
who pursue Him.