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Count All Things as Loss
Bible study on attitudes.

In the middle of Paul's epistle to the Philippians he concludes: "Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord" (Phil. 3:1). And a little later he said: "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice" (Phil. 4:4)!

How do we rejoice in the midst of trials, tribulations, and sufferings (cf. 1:16, 27-30)? In part, the answer lies in counting all things as loss.

Paul said: "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. But indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead (Phil. 3:7-11).

To have perfect peace and contentment thus rejoicing always in the Lord, we must count all things as loss to gain Christ (Phil. 3:8). Jesus said: "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and who ever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul" (Matt. 16:14-26)?

To count all the things of a worldly nature as loss, we must consider them as rubbish (Phil. 3:8). This means that we do not put any more importance upon worldly things than we put upon trash (though we have a responsibility to wisely care for God's blessings). John said: "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life - is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever" (1 Jn. 2:15-17).

We must count all things of a worldly nature as loss before we can be conformed to Christ's death (Phil. 3:10). Jesus came to earth and gave everything, even His life on the cross (Phil. 2:5- 8). Jesus did not please Himself on earth, but lived to please others thus giving his life for our sins (Rom. 15:1-3; 1 Pet. 2:21-24). If we are conformed to Christ's death, we must give ourselves over to serve God (Rom. 6:15f) and other Christians (Rom. 12:9f; 15:1f; Phil. 2:1-4).

Having counted all things as loss and being conformed to Christ's death, Paul says that we (Phil. 3:10-11):

  • know Christ (cf. 1 Jn. 1:6-7; 2:3-5; 5:13, 18-21; Eph. 3:14-21)

  • know the power of His resurrection (cf. Phil. 3:21; Eph. 1:15-23; 3:20; 6:10-19; Rom. 8:10-11)

  • know the fellowship of Christ's sufferings (cf. Phil. 1:27-30; Rom. 8:18f; 2 Cor. 1:5; 2 Tim. 3:12; 1 Pet. 4:12-13)

And having counted all things as loss to gain Christ, we attain to the resurrection of the dead Phil. 3:11-14). Paul said: "Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:12-14).

Have you counted all things as loss to gain Christ? Have you conformed to Christ's death? Are you pressing toward the goal for the prize of eternal life?