“circumcised the eighth day; of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; regarding the law, a Pharisee; regarding zeal, persecuting the church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law, blameless.
But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ—the righteousness from God based on faith. My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death, assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead.”
Philippians 3:5-11 CSB

Resumes have never been a personal favorite thing to have to put together. It’s not for lack of skill or training. It’s more for lack of desire to brag or show off. We all know people who have used their credentials as a way to make more of themselves than what they actually may be. Paul gives his spiritual resume to the church at Philippi. This was not his way of saying “look at me!”. This was more of a “hey, if they said XYZ then consider what I was.” But Paul doesn’t stop after listing all the things that made him an upstanding Jew. Paul says, “But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ.” Paul says three times that he has suffered loss because of, or for the sake of knowing, Christ.

I’m no gardener, but five years ago I planted a very large garden to the side of the home we were living in at the time. The precious family that owned that land were farmers, and the man brought over fertilizer from their chicken houses to help prepare the soil. I went to the store and purchased various seeds to plant. I knew my little family like certain vegetables and fruits – cucumbers, tomatoes, squash, okra and watermelon were among our picks. After planting the seeds, watering them and making sure the garden was free of weeds, we began to see little plants growing in our garden. Soon, we were growing squash out our ears. I thought I would not be able to give them away we had so many! Truth be told, unless those seeds had died they would have never brought forth fruitful plants.

Paul acknowledged the things in his life that had to die so that Christ could live in him. Losing our right to govern ourselves, to make much of our credentials or to live freely as we desire can produce eternal fruit that is only found in Christ. Saul-Paul was on his way to being a ranking Pharisee. He held much importance as he kept the Jewish laws and made sure others did as well. On the Damascus road his life changed. (Acts 9) Paul no longer viewed as important the things that were once of utmost importance to him. He had to die to self, to forfeit or suffer the loss of everything that was once dear so that he could understand the value in knowing Christ.

Questions for Reflection:

• What does it mean to forfeit or lose?
• What do you consider your credentials?
• What does it mean to consider everything a loss?
• What value is there in knowing Christ?
• What does being fruitful look like?

Christ, thank You for being a picture of death to self for us. You did not consider Your divinity as something worth holding on to as a human so that You could redeem us. Help us to see ourselves as You see us, willing to give up all for the joy of knowing You. Amen.