What's It Worth Now?

January 15, 2021

I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ. Philippians 3:7-8 NLT

Do you remember what you wanted for Christmas when you were five? It seemed so significant then. What about when you were sixteen? Most of us can remember a time when we wanted something so much that we behaved badly over it. Perhaps we were selfish and demanding in an effort to get it. Maybe we pouted and made everyone feel bad because we were let down over what we didn’t get. Or maybe we just withdrew. But when we look back at it now, it’s hard to believe that the gift was that significant to us then. It surely wasn’t worth all the effort and energy we put into obtaining it.

Paul had an impressive list of accomplishments and honors before he became a Jesus-follower. He was known for his zeal and passion and his determination to achieve his goals. But in retrospect, he looked at the things that once rang every bell for him and he can hardly believe it. “Once I thought these things were valuable, so valuable that I stopped at nothing to achieve my goals in each area. But now? Now I see clearly. I know what really matters and what is really valuable. The things I once thought were pure gold are worthless to me, just like garbage. Compared to Jesus, they are less than worthless.”

A very significant statement from Paul is this: “For his sake, I have discarded everything else…” This is where we so often fail. We want change to be “magic”; something God does for us and we have no responsibility. God is not going to “take things away from you.” You have the power and the responsibility with your identity in Christ to discard them yourself. When God shows you what needs to go in your life, you can be assured that He knows your true worth. You can trust Him, believe Him, and act. Let it go. Like Paul, the more you gain of Christ, the more satisfied you will be, and you will have the correct price tags on the things in your life.

Take out the garbage now. When you look back a few years from now on what you once valued, you will see how Christ exceeds it all. Get rid of the garbage.

• What is in your life that is unlike Jesus, but you excuse it?
• Do you have an old value you need to discard? The time is now.