“I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”
Philippians 3:8
Most of us know to be suspicious of the obviously sinful things that compete for our hearts. We are far less suspicious of the good things.
Family. Success. A healthy marriage. Financial security. A respected reputation. Even prayer, Bible reading, serving, and ministry.
These are gifts from God. But a gift becomes dangerous when we ask it to give us what only Christ can give.
Paul had an impressive spiritual résumé. Heritage, education, obedience, zeal—he had accumulated everything a religious person might point to as evidence that his life mattered. Yet when Paul encountered Jesus, the value of everything else changed.
He did not discover that those things were necessarily bad.
He discovered that Christ was better.
This is one of the quiet battles of the Christian life. We rarely wake up and decide to abandon Jesus. Instead, we slowly add something to him.
Jesus plus my children turning out well.
Jesus plus people respecting me.
Jesus plus financial security.
Jesus plus the prayer being answered the way I hoped.
And then our joy begins rising and falling with whatever comes after the plus sign.
Perhaps there is a simple way to uncover what has happened in our hearts. Finish this sentence:
“I can have joy in Christ as long as __________.”
What belongs in the blank?
Do not immediately try to get rid of it. If it is a good gift, thank God for it. If it is something you have lost, grieve it honestly before him. But refuse to make it your treasure.
There is only one treasure capable of carrying the full weight of your life.
Jesus Christ.
The Christian life is not primarily about building a better spiritual résumé. It is about discovering, again and again, the surpassing worth of knowing Christ.
Today, loosen your grip on whatever you have placed after the plus sign.
Guard your joy.
Drop the résumé.
Gain Christ.