Credentials

“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order 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 comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—”

~ Philippians 3:7-9

What are your qualifications? How do you measure up? How have you earned your spot—your position? You place of influence or prestige?

Paul, in the previous verses to today’s reading, listed out a number of reasons why he was qualified. According to the religious workings of the day, he was doing everything right and was worthy of admiration and inclusion into God’s special club. More than that, he was at the head of the class. No one was more qualified. No one was more worthy of inclusion into God’s group of elite. And this was precisely what Paul’s life was built upon—climbing the mountain of God’s love and acceptance.

And then Paul realized something profound—earthshakingly profound. All of it—all the accolades, and the rat racing, and the obedience to the rule of law—the whole thing counted for nothing. It wasn't, after all, about Paul's faithfulness. It was—as it has always been--about the faithfulness of the almighty. The Covenant Keeper was always the Lord.

As Paul reflects on this reality he leaves his accolades and credentials behind. He has no need for them. They are rubbish. Trash. Garbage. All of this is true. But the impact of the word translated as rubbish is a little more vulgar. It is more repugnant. This word isn't focused on the stuff we discard when we are finished with it. It is referring to the stuff that your body discards and has no use for anymore.

Paul counts his accolades and his credentials as human rubbish. Human waste. Human excrement.

Vulgar, perhaps. But it is also a glorious picture of the all surpassing power of Jesus and the work that He does on our behalf. So beautiful. So jubilant. So all encompassing is the work of Jesus to free, deliver, redeem, and restore you that every success of ours, small or large, is like excrement.

To Paul, giving up all things for the sake of the cross was not giving things up at all. It was a great exchange—THE great exchange.

For God so loved the world, He gave...