From a natural point of view, the apostle Paul gave up a lot when he came to the Truth. He left behind religious prestige and economic security for persecutions, shame and no regular employment.
Prestige and security
Properly circumcised into the covenant people, a Hebrew of Hebrew parentage, he was respected for his commitment to the law, honored for his zealous persecution of the ecclesia and above reproach in keeping the Jewish ordinances (Phil. 3:5-6). From man’s point of view, he had every reason to feel confident he was one of the chosen of God.
Furthermore, when studying in Jerusalem under the famous Gamaliel (Acts 22:3), he had evidently come to the notice of the Jewish leaders who eventually invited him to join the Sanhedrin (Acts 26:10), the ruling body of world Jewry. Well educated and well connected among the Jews, Paul was also a Roman citizen and skilled in the trade of tent making. He could look forward to a prosperous life in addition to a position of honor among men and confidence in his own righteousness.
Paul’s example
“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ” (Phil. 3:7-8).
Paul had lost everything as a direct result of his commitment to Christ. But there was no resentment in his heart, no inner longing for the old worldly position and material security. These things were now regarded as dung, fit for the garbage can. Any value they once had was now vastly surpassed by the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. To the apostle, the presence of the Truth in his life was not a burden but a joy.
Contrast to us and Israel
Sometimes we may think to ourselves, “If I were not in the Truth, I’d advance in business, hold political office, be popular in the local area, enjoy my weekends fishing or hunting, have more luxurious clothes and furniture” or a number of other things. The Truth seems like a drag on our lives, the readings a chore, the meetings something that clogs up our schedule.
Israel thought like that. They wanted to go back to Egypt, to the food well-seasoned with garlic and leeks instead of the boring manna. The secure and stable existence looked attractive compared to the wilderness wandering. If only they were not Israelites, their lives would be much better.
What a foolish idea! If they were not of Israel, their cattle would be decimated by murrain and hail; their crops would have been ruined by locusts and their firstborn would be dead. If they had not been delivered, they would still be slaves suffering under Egyptian bondage. How quickly they forgot that they had been crying out for relief.
Israel looks foolish in their groanings, and so do we. If not for the Truth, if bereft of God’s loving concern, we would be deprived of angelic direction, we would be dead in our sins and adrift in the uncertainty of the day.
Not a burden but a joy
The Truth is never a disadvantage in our lives. We should never view it as a burden; we should always view it with thankful joy.
Our attitude in this regard will make a big difference. If we view the Truth as a wonderful privilege and opportunity, we will not be shuffling along in our walk looking wistfully to the world, yearning for the pleasures of sin; we will be running, pressing, fighting that we might make our calling and election sure. This was Paul’s attitude.
“One thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13-14 RSV).
The apostle was straining forward; he wasn’t looking back or to the side; he was looking and going in only one direction.
He did not view his calling to the gospel as an onerous obligation; he viewed it as an unbelievable opportunity in grace. In trying to keep the law, he had come to realize he was an utter failure in the commands of the heart, like “thou shalt not covet” (Rom. 7:7-12). But now, in Christ, he sought to “be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith” (Phil. 3:9).
Flee sin, race to godliness
In writing to Timothy, the apostle expresses the same outlook. Material things were of no lasting value, “We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” Recognizing the vanity of what the world offers, let us “flee these things.” Don’t stand there toying with sin, don’t long for the leeks and garlic of Egypt. “Flee these things and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life” (I Tim. 6:6-12).
The precious hope
“Lay hold on eternal life;” here is the great reason for a supreme effort. We are looking for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ. We have been richly blessed in understanding the only way that we can have our vile bodies changed “like unto his glorious body” (Phil. 3:21).
It is surely no burden to be offered such a hope. It is rather a source of lasting joy and contentment, especially when the hope is offered by grace through faith. There should be no looking back; the way of sin offers nothing but emptiness, vanity and death. There should only be a looking ahead with enthusiasm and great anticipation.
From week to week, as we partake of the memorial emblems, let us search our hearts and study our lives. “Let those of us who are mature be thus minded; and if in anything you are otherwise minded, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained” (Phil. 3:15- 16 RSV).
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One