To Know the Cost of Everything, Yet the Value of Nothing

It was reported that eleven millionaires went down on the Titanic. Major A. H. Peuchen left $300,000.00 in money, jewelry and securities in a box in his cabin. "The money seemed a mockery at that time," he later said. "I picked up three oranges instead."   -Source Unknown

It has been said that we know the cost of everything and the value of nothing. There is a substantial difference between cost and value. The word "value" means something that has the quality of intrinsically being valuable, or desirable. It is something of great worth. Sometimes people really do know what they have and take the full advantage of it. Sometimes, we suffer great loss, because we do not know, or do not accept the value of something we have.

To help us understand this, I refer you to Philippians 3:1-10. Let's begin by discussing temporal worth vs. eternal value (Philippians 3:1-5). The word "temporal" means simply something that is temporary. Here today and gone tomorrow. It's something that has no lasting value. This world is temporal, our material possessions are temporal. In fact most things in our life are temporal. Yet, we put great value on them for a while.

Paul mentions his human credentials. To the Jews one's birth, education, religious stating was his pride. In fact, John 3 records Jesus' encounter with the Pharisee Nicodemus who, like most Jews, placed his eternal destiny in the coming Kingdom of God on his birth and good works. However, Jesus told him he "must be born again."

Paul lived his beliefs. He was no hypocrite.Verse 7, explains the reality of all he thought that was dear to him before he came to Christ. "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ." (Philippians 3:7)

You see, Paul had a change in his understanding. He says these things that were his whole life, he now deemed as "loss."The word "loss" is interesting. It does not mean just something a person does not have anymore, but rather something that is destroyed. It is the Greek word "zemia" (Dya mee ia ) and refers to something that has been violently damaged. It is like a ship and cargo that in a storm is a total loss. The sea beats it and destroys it.

(Note verse 8 uses the word again, but it is a little different). "I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord." It has the meaning of forfeiture of something. It is used in Mark 8:26 "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (Mark 8:36)

Jesus was stating it was a violent loss to trade one's soul for the what the material world has. In other words, his salvation had changed his whole perspective on what was valuable in life. Another way to look at it would be trading trash for eternal riches (Philippians 3:8). In this passage, Paul uses these five adverbs before he proceeds (yea, indeed, therefore, at least, even), showing the force and passion of his conviction.

God is giving us a precious jewel, something of immense and unlimited value in Philippians 3:8. He is giving us a principle to direct our lives; and by applying it gain untold benefit, both now and into eternity. We count "all things" as loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ. "All things" means nothing is excluded, nothing too important, nothing too valuable to be given us to gain, the "excellency" of the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

"Excellency" means that which is superior, and supreme. In other words, nothing is greater in value that the knowledge of Jesus Christ. The "knowledge" this verse speaks of is of an all encompassing knowing of Jesus Christ. It is an understanding that is real and unsurpassed. The implication is that this knowledge of Jesus Christ is the most important thing in a person's life. With this knowledge, everything else is made worthwhile.

Paul says he has "suffered" loss. We need to understand that word better. It means to experience. He has experienced the lost of the temporal things of the world, given them up for Jesus Christ. In case someone misunderstands, and thinks he has suffered the loss of something that was value, he adds...."I count them as dung." The word "dung" is only used here in the New Testament and refers to something throw to dogs, or refuse (trash) of any kind.

The objective of his giving up the temporal things of the world was to "win or gain Christ." God is telling us there is nothing in the world that compares to the knowing Jesus Christ. It is a knowing in salvation and a knowing in living one's life as the Lord directs.

What is this "knowledge" that is talked about in verse 8?

-It is having the knowledge of who God is and of His love for us.
-It is knowledge of Jesus' sacrifice for me personally and of His love in paying my sin debt.
-It is knowing one's sins are forgiven.
-It is having the assurance of salvation and the blessed hope for an eternity with God in heaven.
-It is having joy and peace in one's heart.
-It is the satisfaction of knowing you are not at odds with your Creator.
-It is knowing your purpose for being on this earth.
-It is know knowing the presence of God in all circumstances, both good and bad.

Verse 9, continues saying it is knowing the reality that we have no righteousness of our own, but that God has declared us righteous through Jesus Christ. Paul expresses the reality of what God offers us in salvation. It is the fruit and result of being saved. "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death" (Philippians 3:10).

In a short time Paul was taken to a place of execution. His sentence of earthly death was read. The executor stood by ready to perform his horrid act. We do not have a record of this event. It was a private matter as Paul faced his death that he knew in moments would occur.

As his head and neck were placed on the block...I know what was on his mind. "Only moments away....for the glories of seeing my Savior, face to face." Anxious at the thought of being executed, yet totally confident in its result; I would think he slowly closed his eyes....his mind totally fixed on the knowledge of Jesus Christ which blocked out the swinging of the axe....

And then....Hallelujah.....seeing the face of Jesus! His human life's journey concluded in such success....in reaping the reality of salvation. This is what this passage is all about. It is our loving and wonderful God, showing us what is real and what is the most important thing we can do with the life God has given us. Give it to Him!

Scripture: Matthew 10:31; Ephesians 2:8; Hebrews 13:5; Colossians 3:1; Galatians 5:1; James 4:1; Hebrews 13:15-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24;  Philippians 4:8-9

Prayer: Direct us, O Lord, in all our doing with your most gracious favor and further us with your continual help, that in all our works, begun, continued, and ended in you, we may glorify your holy name, and finally, by your mercy obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

May God bless you,

Cyndee