Author : Keith Sharp
Devotional study of Philippians
I Also Count All Things Loss
“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.” (Philippians 3:7)
Years ago, while we lived in the Houston area, an article appeared in the Houston Post describing America’s “nervous breakdown.” The author described Americans as a fast-paced, wealthy people suffering a multitude of psychological problems brought on by a pressure filled life-style in pursuit of material riches. In Philippians three the inspired apostle teaches us how to have peace and joy regardless of how many things of this life we have.
The apostle Paul and the first century Christians who followed his teaching left us an example to imitate as our pattern of life (Philippians 3:17). Paul is our example in regard to “things.” The writer employs this term “things” five times in chapter three as a reference to things of this world (verses 7, 8 [two], 13, 19). Since he uses a word that is so general in application, we can apply the principles of the lesson to whatever worldly things are dear to us.
After again reminding the Christians in Philippi to rejoice in the Lord (verse 1), he warns them of the danger of teachers who would lead them into Judaism (verse 2). Christians are the true circumcision, whose standing with God and values are spiritual and through Christ rather than fleshly (verse 3; cf. Colossians 2:11-12).
Paul himself was eminent in Judaism and had devoted himself completely to the righteousness of the law (verses 4-5; Galatians 1:14). But when he looked back on all that meant everything to him in his past life and compared them to Christ, he realized that all these things were loss (verse 7). Indeed Paul had lost all that was important to him in his old life, but, compared with the knowledge of Christ, those things were just rubbish (verse 8). Paul the Accountant placed all things of this world in the debit column and only the things of Christ on the credit side. Whatever things of this world are important to us – material riches, pleasures, popularity, even family ties – we should view as loss for Christ. The reason is that only in Christ can we have true righteousness, the righteousness from God through Christ by faith, and attain to the resurrection to eternal life (verses 9-11).
Paul realized that he had not yet laid hold of the prize, eternal life, nor was his character and life yet complete as a flawless imitation of the character and life of Christ (verse 12). But as an athlete striving for the goal, he was not looking back but was pressing on, reaching for the goal of eternal life (verse 13-14).
All mature Christians so strive, and those who haven’t yet learned to so live can learn to do so (verse 15). Regardless of our level of spiritual maturity, we must live by the same divine standard, the will of Christ, and have the same attitude, the determination to forget the things of the world we left behind and press on to spiritual maturity and eternal life (verse 16; cf.1:27).
There were many who lived in such a way that Paul wept to speak of them. They were the enemies of the cross, the emblem of Christ’s sacrifice for us, their destiny was destruction, they worshiped their own appetites and they were proud of the things of which they should have been ashamed. Who were they? Those “who set their mind on earthly things.” (verses 18-19) If worldly things dominate our thinking and our lives, we are those people.
I have traveled in several foreign lands, but I always remember that I am an American citizen, enjoying the great privileges and rights of citizenship in the greatest democracy that has ever existed. Paul exhorts us to remember where our citizenship is. As the patriarchs of old, we must be just pilgrims here, journeying through a world where we are foreigners. As a citizens of the kingdom of heaven, “our citizenship is in heaven.” (verse 20)
Thus, we eagerly wait for the coming of the King. When He comes he will change our lowly bodies to correspond with His glorious, resurrection body. That same power by which He will put everything in subjection to Himself, even death itself, is the power by which He will raise and transform us (verses 20-21). “O Lord, come!” (1 Corinthians 16:22)
