True Riches

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. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ…. Philippians 3:7-8

The world has a lot to offer. Money, possessions, renown; career, fame, significance; relationships, pleasure, and experiences. Life can be rich and rewarding, especially if you’re prepared to work hard, sacrifice much, and chase ambitious goals. But ultimately, all of it is fleeting. As I read recently, there are no roof-racks on a hearse, so we can’t take anything with us when we depart this mortal coil.

Research shows that a significant number of people who win big in the lottery end up broke, broken, and more unhappy than they were before they won. Some of these people have said the dream of winning was more fun that the experience of it. There will be logical, practical reasons for this of course, but I think there is, deep down, a spiritual one.

None of it is meant to satisfy. The Apostle Paul had a lot to be proud of. He was a person of significance, likely quite well-off and well thought of among his people. He was of the right stock, vintage, and pedigree to be revered and respected. And he was a very self-reliant man! But an encounter with Jesus brought all of that crashing down – you can read about it in Acts 9:1-19.

Years later, as he wrote to the church in Philippi, Paul reflected on the change. All that he had before, he now considered nothing! In fact, the word he used in verse 8 (garbage) is skubalon in Greek, which literally means excrement! Talk about a contrast! Compared to knowing Jesus, anything Paul was once so proud of, was now a pile of… well, you know what!

Nothing at all in this world can even come close to providing the depth of contentment, connection, and comfort of knowing Jesus. And I don’t just mean knowing Him the way you know your neighbours. I mean pursuing a deep, devoted, and determined relationship with Him – after all, it’s what you were made for!

Ps. Nigel