Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
What does it mean to count everything as loss for the sake of Christ? What does it mean to renounce all that we have for Christ’s sake? Paul said he does this. “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord”. And a few verses later he said, “Brothers, join in imitating me”. So this is commanded of all believers. I wonder what value you put in certain things: your home, your family, your relationships, your job, your reputation, your achievements, your talents, your education, your safety, your bank balance? Well, the apostle Paul considered these things and everything else that life and living has to offer, as worth nothing by comparison with the surpassing value, joy, wonder, worth, and glory of knowing Christ Jesus. Paul lost or lacked all these things and more besides, for the infinite excellency of knowing Christ Jesus his Lord. In Paul’s estimation, knowing the Lord Jesus in an increasingly intimate and personal way was of far greater value that all that this world could offer, and yet right up until the end of his life, Paul’s passion and greatest desire was to learn more of his Master and Lord: to KNOW Christ. Before his conversion, Paul had all that this world could offer but, like Moses before him, he refused to be enticed by the benefits and advantages that this life had to offer, recognizing that by comparison, knowing Christ Jesus was of paramount importance. And so, like Moses before him, Paul was prepared to suffer the loss of all things and to regard them as utter garbage, in order that he might gain Christ. Renouncing all (counting all as loss) means that, if we must choose between Christ and anything else, we will choose Christ. Renouncing all (counting all as loss) means that we will deal with everything in ways that draw us nearer to Christ, so that we gain more of Christ, and enjoy more of him, by the way we relate to everything. Renouncing all (counting all as loss) means that we will seek to deal with the things of this world in ways that show that they are not our treasure, but rather that Christ is our treasure. Renouncing all (counting all as loss) means that if we lose any or all the things this world can offer, we will not lose our joy, or our treasure, or our life…because Christ is our joy and our treasure and our life. None of us loves Christ this perfectly, or lives so consistently. But to be a follower of Jesus, to be a true Christian, means that these four ways of dealing with “everything” will be the settled, joyful, defining resolve of our lives. Let us take Paul’s example to heart and recognize the immense worth and surpassing value, joy, wonder, and glory of knowing Christ Jesus our Lord. May we be able to say with Paul: “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 mere rubbish, so that I may gain Christ.”
Spiritual Steve 