Smeagol is Free!
A hermitudinal view of...stuff...


12.15.2004  

Gain vs. Loss: Cross Economics

Philippians 3:8 - 16

More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.



Life is filled with unexpected twists and turns and peaks and valleys. Were I to claim that I wished for a life without such height and depth, I would be a liar, for without those joys and pains, I would never be molded into true Christ-likness. Of course, in my flesh I desire for an ease of life that simply won't ever come; it is part of the self-reliant nature that comes with sin. I find here in Philippains 3 a clear reason why should I not bemoan the pain in my heart. In fact, more than simply refraining from acknowledging the pain, I believe the Lord is commanding us to embrace it for Christ's sake! Paul says that all things considered "gain" are to be considered "loss" for Christ's sake; knowing Christ is a surpassing value; all things are counted as rubbish (dung, as Biggz would say) that we might gain Christ and be found in Him (a sort of mutual claim, it seems); we have Christ's righteousness (what a precious truth!); we can know Him, know the power of His victory over sin and death, and have fellowship (intimacy with and conformity to) with Him in His sufferings and death. He then goes on to detail how we are to press on in order that we might lay hold those things for Christ lay hold of us. (Hey, Paul said it, not me.)



In essence, I have ample reason for joy. More than that, I have a clear and passionate command from the Lord to rejoice in Christ by savoring Him. How can I not? What do I have or not have that could compare with Christ? If the Lord desire to give me more, it shall be to the praise of the glory of His grace in Christ. I am reminded of something Augustine said so very long ago: "He loves Thee too little, who loves Thee together with anything, which he loves not for Thy sake."



Father, cause my loves to be loves that are loves for Thy sake. Let my desires be desires that are rooted in You, grown in You, and therefore glorifying to You.

posted by Bolo | 10:54 AM
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