WHAT WE BELIEVE - Before God, Our Own Gains Are Garbage

"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 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith." Philippians 3:7-9 (NIV)

What accomplishments are you most proud of?

Which skills did you work the hardest to master?

Is there anything hanging on your walls or sitting on your shelves that supplies your greatest sense of identity?

Whatever has come to mind in response to the above questions, could you imagine crumpling it up in your hands and tossing it in the bin?!

This is the image Paul uses when he refers to all of his reasons for pride in himself. He considers “garbage” everything accomplished by his own effort and handed to him via human ancestry. In light of the righteousness that can only be gained on the basis of faith in Jesus—it’s all trash.

God has no doubt equipped you with many strengths and with the ability to accomplish many things. But if you look to any of these things to earn favor with God—to earn your own righteousness—they will all fail miserably. They’ll end up in the garbage heap. The righteousness that comes only from him so far surpasses anything gained by human effort, they cannot even be compared.

Embrace that treasure. And toss out anything that prevents you from doing so.