Philippians: Joy in ChristSample

Count It All as Loss

When Confidence Becomes Corruption:

Have you ever done something you were genuinely proud of and secretly hoped someone would notice? Maybe you cleaned the entire house, nailed a work project, or served at church and thought, “Someone’s got to say something about this.” I’ve been there too—fishing for compliments, trying to get others to affirm my worth. It’s not something I’m proud of, but it’s part of the human condition. We all wrestle with it.

There’s a fine line between healthy confidence and a kind of corrupted confidence—where our sense of value gets tangled up in our achievements. We start presenting our résumé to people the moment we meet them. We rehearse our highlight reel in conversations, hoping someone will see how impressive we are. And when we see others doing it, it’s easy to spot—those who retell the same story again and again to remind everyone they’ve accomplished something notable.

But Paul flips this entire mindset on its head in Philippians 3. If anyone had a reason to boast in the flesh—religious pedigree, personal zeal, spiritual accomplishments—it was him. Yet Paul calls it all rubbish compared to the value of knowing Christ. The Greek word he uses for “rubbish” is strong—more like trash. Paul’s message is clear: knowing Jesus is infinitely more valuable than anything you’ve ever done or will ever do.

That’s a hard truth to embrace in a culture obsessed with achievement. But it’s freeing. We don’t have to be impressive. We don’t have to prove our worth. We simply need to press on to know Christ more deeply. Our confidence isn’t in ourselves—it’s in what Christ has done, is doing, and will do in us.

Respond to God’s Word:

Reflect on anything you’ve valued more than Christ—whether accomplishments, recognition, or status. Surrender it in prayer, and ask God to renew your desire to know Him above all.