Are you ready to count all things as loss?

“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.”
(Philippians 3:8).
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Whatever we gather in this world, whether it be wealth, riches, properties, position, privilege, academic achievements (degrees), we cannot keep them forever, neither can we carry them with us when we breathe our last. What actually endures forever is what we do with Christ and for Him. When we come to terms with this truth, we can wholeheartedly agree with the Apostle Paul, and understand why he chose to count all things as loss for Christ’s sake.

Whatever we possess in this world is for our little enjoyment for a short period of time. We must therefore learn to share our blessings with others and seek to better their lives, for we will suddenly leave everything behind when death lays its icy hands on us.

There was an academician in Ghana who passed away a few years ago. I was shocked when I read his biography and saw that the man had many degrees in various fields of study. Whilst he lived there was no way one could tell that he had all these degrees, but once he passed these became valueless. This illustration is not intended to play down the acquisition of knowledge, but the fact that if the quest for knowledge distracts our attention from God, we will lose everything in the end. (Please read Ecclesiastes 1:14; 17 & 18 and chapter 2).

One of the most rewarding and important moments in life is the moment you finally find the courage to let go of what you cannot keep and embrace that which is eternal. When Paul chose to let go of his worldly accomplishments, he automatically set the parameters for his perspective and priority in life. He chose Christ over everything he had in life before his conversion. Let us observe the outcome of the choice he made:

1.HE COUNTED ALL THINGS LOSS FOR CHRIST – Philippians 3:8a
Paul makes a very strong affirmation to what he had earlier stated in verse 7. In verse 8 he states: “Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss….”. It is like he said, “I am serious about what I have said” or “I mean what I have said without any fear of contradiction or retraction”. He made this intentional choice because of the awesomeness of knowing Christ Jesus as Lord.

Knowing the truth about, and having a personal relationship with Him, completely changed Paul’s perspective and priority in life. Everything he had, and the knowledge he had acquired put together, could not match or compare to his knowledge of Jesus Christ as personal Saviour and Lord. Paul saw that Christ is more precious and more excellent than the law and than anything and anyone else. If we also see the preciousness and excellency of Christ, we will drop all things and count all things as loss on account of Christ.

Beloved, the excellency of the knowledge of Christ will lead to the excellency of His Person, and He will be our supreme preference in this life. Christ is our sufficiency in all things. Let us remember that the way to greatness, usefulness and relevance is by making Jesus Christ King of our lives, and giving Him pre-eminence in all things.

2. HE SUFFERED THE LOSS OF ALL THINGS – Philippians 3:8b.
Paul willingly and cheerfully let go of everything he had acquired for a single purpose he had set before him. He would not allow any earthly accomplishment to hinder or distract him from the pursuance of this noble goal. Once he understood the awesomeness of Christ, position, popularity, privilege, possessions, fame and riches meant nothing to him. He was willing to lose all these things in order to lay hold on what he would never lose. “..For whom I suffered or endured all these things”.

3. HE COUNTED THESE THINGS AS DUNG- Philippians 3:8c.
The use of the word “dung” which could mean: refuse, waste matter, manure or excrement, should not be seen as vulgar or uncouth. Paul used this word to show the overpowering comparison between choosing Christ over everything he had attained before his conversion. Everything he had treasured paled into insignificance as a result of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ.

Nothing else really mattered to Paul when he entered into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as his Saviour and Master. (Please read: Colossians 3:1-5). How do you rate your relationship with Christ, compared to your accomplishments and possessions? Does Christ have pre-eminence in your life. What matters most to you?

4. HE DESIRED TO WIN CHRIST – Philippians 3:8d
Paul speaks of winning Christ to show us that Christ is worthy of what it takes to have Him, and Paul was willing to lose everything to gain Christ – to have the attention of Christ and have a closer walk and deeper and intimate fellowship with Him. Beloved, a closer walk and sweet fellowship with the Lord is worth more than whatever the world can offer us. Are you ready and willing to lose everything in order to gain or win Christ? What you lose to win Christ are things you cannot keep, but what you gain in Christ is imperishable and eternal. I pray that this is your desire in this new year – a complete surrender and submission to the Lord to pave an unhindered path for a closer walk and intimate fellowship with the Lord. Shalom

OUR PRAYER
LORD, teach me your way, and help me walk with you in righteousness. In all my choosing, help me to choose you over anything and everything the world offers me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.