8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 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 and is by faith.
Paul’s passionate pursuit was to know the Lord Jesus, further still. Risking everything for this, he lived according to this world view and considered all things a loss compared to the greatness of this holy endeavor. God honors those who abandon themselves to Him, who live their lives with open hands. He treasures those who fan into flame this great desire for Him, refusing to allow it to be quenched by the world’s naysayers, the flesh’s laziness or the urgent circumstances constantly abounding – the cumulative voices of which can be relentless. It boils down to a matter of priority. He must remain at the top of our list even at the expense of other worthy goals. We are to clear the clutter of our minds and be still before Him and wait patiently for Him. He can take care of all that concerns us and He can get our list done but He must be first. This is not to neglect our God given responsibilities; rather it is putting them in the right priority. He shows Himself to those whose eyes remain focused upon Him. This is the true path of wisdom and many miss it. Wisdom is acquired by those who love it and seek it. Jesus is Wisdom as He is the Truth and He is the Life. Remember as well, one can never out-give God:
Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained. 1 Sam 2:30 (NIV)
17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. 18 With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. 19 My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. 20 I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, 21 bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full. Prov 8:17-21 (NIV)
The Prophet Jeremiah writes similar words when stating what God expects from His people:
23 This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD. Jer 9:23-24 (NIV)
“Faith, as Paul saw it, was a living, flaming thing leading to surrender and obedience to the commandments of Christ.” A.W. Tozer
For Paul, worldly honors and things not only paled in comparison to knowing the Lord Jesus, he considered them as mere refuse. Paul’s heart was set on Christ, having full knowledge that his righteousness was found in the Lord Jesus and through faith in Him. The apostle was fully aware that apart from the righteousness of Christ, all remain ruined before God. No amount of outward observances of the law or good deeds will ever justify sinful flesh.
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. Romans 3:19-20 (NIV)
Yet thankfully, when a believing sinner respond’s in faith to the Spirit’s work in his heart, he is clothed with the righteousness of Christ. The believer is “accepted in the Beloved” – robed in His righteousness. The sinner stands complete in Christ. God takes what is beyond us and places it within us. Praise Him!
“Faith is the ordained means of sharing in the saving benefits of what has been purchased by Christ’s blood.” Matthew Henry
1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Heb 11:1 (NIV)
“Faith raises the soul above the difficulty, straight to God Himself, and enables one to stand still. We gain nothing by our restless and anxious efforts...It are therefore true wisdom, in all times of difficulty and perplexity, to stand still – to wait only upon God, and He will assuredly open a way for us.” C.H. Mackintosh