But whatever things were gain to me, these things I have counted as loss because of Christ.
What do you value in life? How much time do you spend pursuing those things or ideas? At different stages of life, different things are important to us, but we continually spend time pursuing what’s important. When we are young, we have an eagerness to learn and play so any item becomes something to pretend with. In our teen years, what others think becomes important, so we act and dress a certain way to get people to like and approve of us. As adults, we pursue goals that reflect what is important to us. We look for a house in a safe neighborhood because we value comfort and family. We work extra hours for our job because we value loyalty and finances.
In today’s verse, Paul stated that all the things he previously considered beneficial were nothing compared to what He had in Christ. Earthly pursuits have a measure of value and a proper place, but compared with Christ, even the best pursuits seem worthless. Our world tells us to chase the next best thing, but that chase is never ending. In Matthew 6:33, Jesus said, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.” When we consider life from our earthly, limited point of view, we will never be satisfied or at rest. But when we see Christ as most valuable and seek Him first, everything else will fall into place.
- Why is Christ more valuable than anything or anyone else? Why is it important to keep earthly pursuits in perspective next to Him?
- What have you pursued that ultimately didn’t satisfy you like you thought it would?
- Pray and ask God to show you the value of following Him and to grow your desire to pursue Him.
