Profit and Loss. In our society many people live by the concept of Assets and Liabilities, Profit and Loss. When the stock market and economy are flourishing and money is pouring in, they are excited. When the stock market and economy are in danger of recession or even depression, they become anxious. Greed and envy often drive their actions, trampling others in their eagerness for gain. Big corporations and small companies live by profit and loss.
But then I guess, we too will live by profit and loss if we follow the example set by the Apostle Paul.
“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, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ-the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.” [Phil 3:7-9]
Paul’s idea of profit and loss is far different from the world’s viewpoint. Paul looked at all the things he had gained in his life by his own strength and ability and through his heritage and position. He was a true Hebrew-speaking Jew from the tribe of Benjamin. He was a ruling member of the most devout and stringent political/religious party – a Pharisee. He was educated by the great Rabbi Gamaliel. When the world looked at Paul, they put every one of those things in his profit column.
Then Paul met Christ Jesus, and, in that meeting, Paul found what true profit was. He went back to his profit column, saw all those self-made gains, and moved them all to his loss column. Then he put one thing in his profit column, the name “Jesus.” Everything else was a loss compared to the “surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus.”
Now, as believers, we follow the example of Paul. The things of this world are no longer what we strive for, some are necessary and useful, yes, but they are not our profit. Like Paul, there is only one thing in our profit column, the name “Jesus.” That is our glorious profit – to be found in Christ Jesus. Amen and Amen.
