Philippians 3:7-9: “These things were my assets, but I wrote them off as a loss for the sake of Christ. But even beyond that, I consider everything a loss in comparison with the superior value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have lost everything for him, but what I lost I think of as sewer trash, so that I might gain Christ and be found in him.”
Before meeting Jesus, Paul had a lot of good things going for him. Among his peers he would have been someone that others envied and looked up to. He had high status as a leader in his community, a shining reputation as a Hebrew person, the best education, and authority as a religious leader. Paul had a lot to lose in choosing to follow Jesus!
What could have been so valuable to Paul that it was worth giving all he had to get it? What was worth all the status, power, and security he had worked so hard for? Paul makes it clear–to know Jesus, and be known by Him, was worth immeasurably more than anything the world could offer.
As we focus on maturity this year, may we all grow to live our lives more and more like Paul. May we grow in the knowledge that nothing the world can offer compares to knowing God. And may that truth guide our day to day decisions, as we grow in knowing God more and more.