Value in Knowing Christ

Philippians 3:8, “More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ.”

I recently read a story about Dan Lanning who coaches at the University of Oregon. His team recently defeated the University of Colorado Buffaloes. Dan and I share the same college alma matter. I do not know Dan Lanning but we both graduated from William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri. He is actually a Richmond, Missouri boy. Lanning was coaching at Park Hill South in the Kansas City Metro area when he was offered a job at the University of Pittsburg as a Graduate Assistant for a measly $800 a month. He and his wife had an infant son and a baby on the way. But, Lanning had a burning desire to become a college coach. In order to accept the offer from the University of Pittsburg he faced the decision to resign mid year from his Park Hill South job and risk losing his Missouri teaching license. He was also facing the decision to give up a much better income to support his young family. Lanning could not turn down this opportunity to get into the ranks of college coaching. He took the job, pulled out his two and a half years worth of teachers retirement and moved to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. He was willing to forfeit everything he had for the sake of gaining something greater. When we look at Philippians 3:8 we see that the apostle Paul was willing forfeit everything for something of greater value. The apostle Paul explains, “More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ.” There is nothing of greater value than knowing Christ. Yet, there are so many who are not willing to forfeit things of far lesser value for that which is of greatest value. Do you place a high value on knowing Christ? Is He the most valuable possession in your life? Or, are you holding onto something of far lesser value because you are comfortable, complacent or stubborn? Let me encourage you to exchange all those things that are keeping you from Jesus so that you can come to know the One who is of surpassing value, the Lord Jesus Christ.