Values Clarification
Philippians 3:7-9(a) (NLT) 7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him.
The ultimate values clarification for a Christ-follower is in Philippians Chapter 3. Paul starts in Philippians 3, verse 5, talking about what was important to him – what used to be important to him. From verses 5-7, he’s talking about what he did value before Jesus came into his life.
And then we read Philippians 3, verses 7-9. 7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. (And then he repeats it) 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage (if you have a King James around, it says “dung” here), counting it all as dung, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him.
Man, those are good verses. That’s some serious values clarification.
Values clarification is basically deciding what is most important to you in your life and then making your decisions according to that. You first decide, “What is most important in my life?” And then you make decisions according to what is most important in your life. That’s values clarification at its base.
The ultimate values clarification of a Christ-follower is the first half of Philippians 3:8. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Do you see the power there of the comparison? Everything else is worthless, compared to the infinite knowledge of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord. So, if that’s the values clarification, now this Christ-follower who says that, can make decisions accordingly.
Everything else I would chase after, everything else I would pin my hopes on, everything else I would fight for – it’s worthless compared to the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. When you get to that revelation, you’re on your way to making a life’s resolution.
And then, what happens is we start making decisions based on that truth. And that’s exactly what Paul does in the rest of verse 8. Look – this is so cool. This is his decision based on his values clarification. If knowing Christ is infinitely more valuable than anything else you would pin your hopes on, then make decisions accordingly. Here’s Paul’s decision. 8(b) . . . For his sake (for the sake of Christ) I have discarded everything else (that’s a big decision), counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him.
Do you see his decisions are based on his values clarification? If the infinite value of knowing Christ is the most important thing to him, then he says, “I’ve willingly thrown overboard. . . ” This word “discarded” means I’ve willingly suffered the loss or thrown overboard everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could – in its place – gain Christ and become one, be identified with him. THAT'S a genuine life’s resolution.
Journal: Go back and read these verses one more time. Take some time and go through the Apply and Response sections of your journal. Take a moment to apply the truths in these verses, and take a moment to respond to God. If you don’t have our Alone With God Journal, you can order one at wordbymail.com.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, please help us to see you as our highest value because, Lord, you truly are our highest value in this life and for eternity. Nothing else compares to the infinite value of truly knowing you, Lord Jesus. And so, we pray that you would draw us close to you, that you would help us to know your true value. And then, Lord, help us to see that everything else is like garbage compared to knowing you. Lord, reveal it to us. In your precious name, we pray, Jesus, amen.
Get this entire message, Make A Life's Resolution (2019) by searching that same title at wordbymail.com or on your Word By Mail phone app.
The ultimate values clarification for a Christ-follower is in Philippians Chapter 3. Paul starts in Philippians 3, verse 5, talking about what was important to him – what used to be important to him. From verses 5-7, he’s talking about what he did value before Jesus came into his life.
And then we read Philippians 3, verses 7-9. 7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. (And then he repeats it) 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage (if you have a King James around, it says “dung” here), counting it all as dung, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him.
Man, those are good verses. That’s some serious values clarification.
Values clarification is basically deciding what is most important to you in your life and then making your decisions according to that. You first decide, “What is most important in my life?” And then you make decisions according to what is most important in your life. That’s values clarification at its base.
The ultimate values clarification of a Christ-follower is the first half of Philippians 3:8. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Do you see the power there of the comparison? Everything else is worthless, compared to the infinite knowledge of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord. So, if that’s the values clarification, now this Christ-follower who says that, can make decisions accordingly.
Everything else I would chase after, everything else I would pin my hopes on, everything else I would fight for – it’s worthless compared to the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. When you get to that revelation, you’re on your way to making a life’s resolution.
And then, what happens is we start making decisions based on that truth. And that’s exactly what Paul does in the rest of verse 8. Look – this is so cool. This is his decision based on his values clarification. If knowing Christ is infinitely more valuable than anything else you would pin your hopes on, then make decisions accordingly. Here’s Paul’s decision. 8(b) . . . For his sake (for the sake of Christ) I have discarded everything else (that’s a big decision), counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him.
Do you see his decisions are based on his values clarification? If the infinite value of knowing Christ is the most important thing to him, then he says, “I’ve willingly thrown overboard. . . ” This word “discarded” means I’ve willingly suffered the loss or thrown overboard everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could – in its place – gain Christ and become one, be identified with him. THAT'S a genuine life’s resolution.
Journal: Go back and read these verses one more time. Take some time and go through the Apply and Response sections of your journal. Take a moment to apply the truths in these verses, and take a moment to respond to God. If you don’t have our Alone With God Journal, you can order one at wordbymail.com.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, please help us to see you as our highest value because, Lord, you truly are our highest value in this life and for eternity. Nothing else compares to the infinite value of truly knowing you, Lord Jesus. And so, we pray that you would draw us close to you, that you would help us to know your true value. And then, Lord, help us to see that everything else is like garbage compared to knowing you. Lord, reveal it to us. In your precious name, we pray, Jesus, amen.
Get this entire message, Make A Life's Resolution (2019) by searching that same title at wordbymail.com or on your Word By Mail phone app.
No Comments