If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have
more… (Philippians 3:3).
The apostle Paul could surely relate to the business executive. Paul reached
the height of his profession only to have it completely stripped and torn
from him. What he thought mattered in life became rubbish compared to what
God did in his heart by destroying what seemed valuable at the time. It took
a dramatic event to bring Paul into this revelation. A bright light.
Blindness. The most fearful experience a human could have — being addressed
personally by God questioning why he was persecuting His people.
It would not be too long after his conversion that Paul would learn one of
the greatest lessons every child of God must learn. That lesson is to avoid
putting confidence in the flesh. In business we are rewarded for
achievement. It is a “measurable” life. We work. We see results. We get
certain feelings of accomplishment from these activities.
It was not until I was placed in a situation to experience utter failure
that I could identify with the words of Paul. I have met other business
people as well who achieved great success in their business life only to
experience dramatic failure. That personal handshake with failure leads to a
realization that “whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake
of Christ. What is more I consider everything a loss compared to the
surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, whose sake I have lost
all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in
him…(Philippians 3:8).
Sometimes God lets us experience great pain to learn the lessons of greatest
importance. Knowing Christ intimately is the most important lesson we will
learn. Take stock in what you find your greatest pleasure in today. Avoid
placing your confidence in those things that are but rubbish so that you
might know Him more intimately.