Ncdataman
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- Joined
- Feb 15, 2007
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It's All Relative
"But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ."
— Philippians 3:7
When you become a Christian, one of the more notable changes is that you will give up many of the things you once did. Of course, this depends on your lifestyle prior to your conversion. But for many of us, a dramatic change will take place.
I have heard people share their stories of how they came to Christ and the great sacrifices they made to follow Him, saying things like, "I had a great life. . . . I went to parties. . . . I had so much fun. . . . But I gave it all up for Jesus Christ, hallelujah! I left it all for the glory of God!"
When I hear statements like that, I feel like asking, "What are you talking about? You gave it all up? What did you give up?"
If they were to look at those things honestly and realistically, they would come to the same conclusion that Paul did. He said, "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord . . . " (Philippians 4:7–8).
Paul was saying that the stuff that used to be so important, the stuff he once valued so highly, meant nothing to him now in relation to the excellence of the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
It's a good idea to periodically ask ourselves, "Is this thing that I am doing slowing me down or speeding me along? Is it building me up spiritually or is it tearing me down?" If it is a weight, then we should lay it aside.
Reprinted from Harvest
"But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ."
— Philippians 3:7
When you become a Christian, one of the more notable changes is that you will give up many of the things you once did. Of course, this depends on your lifestyle prior to your conversion. But for many of us, a dramatic change will take place.
I have heard people share their stories of how they came to Christ and the great sacrifices they made to follow Him, saying things like, "I had a great life. . . . I went to parties. . . . I had so much fun. . . . But I gave it all up for Jesus Christ, hallelujah! I left it all for the glory of God!"
When I hear statements like that, I feel like asking, "What are you talking about? You gave it all up? What did you give up?"
If they were to look at those things honestly and realistically, they would come to the same conclusion that Paul did. He said, "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord . . . " (Philippians 4:7–8).
Paul was saying that the stuff that used to be so important, the stuff he once valued so highly, meant nothing to him now in relation to the excellence of the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
It's a good idea to periodically ask ourselves, "Is this thing that I am doing slowing me down or speeding me along? Is it building me up spiritually or is it tearing me down?" If it is a weight, then we should lay it aside.
Reprinted from Harvest
