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.
Philippians 3:7-8 NIV
Paul lists all of the things he had to be proud of. The things that were an advantage to him in his world. He then compares all of those things to knowing Christ. And he came to the conclusion that there was no comparison.
I can, and should, do the same thing. I live in the United States. The culture I was born into, fairly or not, gives me some advantage. I am retired with a comfortable income and no debt. I am a long-time Baptist. My home, while older, is comfortable. I have a decent education and good health. I have a loving wife, grown children, and lovely grandchildren.
But none of those things have any value when compared to knowing my creator. All of those things that seem advantageous to me in this life, that I have a tendency to depend on, more often than not, serve to keep me from the relationship with Christ that I yearn for. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with any of them. In reality, I believe they are good. But, compared with the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus as Lord, they are as nothing.
