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. Philippians 3:7-9
“Paul has abandoned or renounced any gains connected with his previous benefits and assets, whether the privileges of birth, family honors, personal achievements, family, or material possessions. Like a liquidation sale at an expensive furniture warehouse, Paul concluded that all the valuable stuff was expendable and had to go if it got in the way of gaining Christ and being found in him…Paul can no longer profitably use those good things (cf. Isaiah 64:6). They no longer nourish his life. In any event, Paul is saying that such earthly things have been totally eclipsed by the value of knowing Christ and the benefits one has in Him.”
Ben Witherington III in Paul’s Letter to the Philippians: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2011) 202.
Today’s look at gain in God’s Word directs our attention to choices we must make. Paul considered “whatever were gains” as loss. Why? Their worth was far less than knowing and gaining Christ. Do you have these things? Paul would say to let go of them. As Witherington writes, “they no longer nourish” you. You’ve tasted something better.
This renunciation echoes the call of Jesus to the rich man in Mark 10:17-31. There, the call to let go of wealth and status comes with promise of one hundredfold gain. That’s the paradox of gaining Christ! It costs us everything and yet, the gain is one hundred times better than the cost. The reality is, however, that we can’t have both.
By calling the rich to let go of gain and consider it loss, Jesus and Paul are not trying to rob the rich but help them. Please hear that! With them, I am not telling you that you are bad if you have wealth. God often richly supplies material resources to faithful servants. I am saying that if you have wealth, don’t hold on to it lest it get it’s hold on to you!
Today at Family Camp we are teaching on “The Choices Every Family Must Make” and the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Notice that a rich person does not save the day in that story. The last person anyone would expect to show love, to share resources, and to offer help becomes the role model for the rest of us. That’s how it works with Jesus.