What is most weighty in the things of God? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Philippians 3:7-11,

"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. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead."

When I turn on Christian radio in my area, I find some great programs where wonderful Bible teachers go through the various books of the Bible or spend time focusing on some aspect of the things of God as taught in the Scriptures.

Also, there seems to be plenty of programs that deal with other issues, family counseling, how to ensure we have a happy marriage, how to keep kids from taking the wrong road to destruction and ruin, how to manage finances and so forth. While these things are good and very helpful for those in need of them, at times I wonder if time spent on these kinds of issues manifest a poorly weighted focus. I'm not saying marriage counseling, advice for the faithful on how to raise their children, handling finances, etc. is wrong or bad, I'm just reflecting on what ought to be considered weightier issues.

I think in this passage Paul provides a much needed balance and perspective on the things of God. As he reflects on his religious activities as a young man, he now speaks to what he has found as far more important in the things of God. I sometimes wish more time was spent on these kinds of things whether from the pulpit, in the context of youth ministry, Christian radio or whatever.

In this passage Paul speaks of the "surpassing worth of knowing Jesus Christ" and being found in him. He talks of the righteousness that comes from God through faith. Paul says he wants to know Christ. It seems to me that his burning desire was to know the Lord and know him well, that he could not learn enough, know enough, to draw too close to the Lord. Whatever it was he had already secured for himself, it was not enough, he wanted more. He wanted to know more of the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, what it meant to participate in his sufferings, how to become like him and how to attain to the resurrection of the dead.

Again, I am not saying there is no value in family counseling issues, financial advice issues, raising children, having a happy marriage, etc. I am quite certain many of these things are important to those who need them. However, I am entirely convinced if Paul was the program manager of any of these radio stations, the programming would look very different. There would be a much greater focus on Jesus Christ. There would be much more time spent on redemption, righteousness, faith and resurrection. There may be a little time for the other peripheral issues. After all, he spent time writing about these other things here and there, but I suspect he considered them peripheral, as say his counsel relative to marriage in 1 Corinthians 7, etc.

Just musing on how things are weighted in the church today. What do you think?

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

 

Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com