What matters the most to you?

Phil. 3:7  I once thought all these things were so very important, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.

The Apostle Paul had just recounted all the reasons why he had a right to have confidence in the flesh regarding his standing with God.  He had recalled his Jewish pedigree, his rise to fame as a Jewish zealot, and his reputation as one who had no faults as far as being a follower and defender of the Jewish law was concerned.  In his own eyes and in the eyes of his peers, he had it altogether.

These things were very important to him, and probably to most of us, his family, faith, fruitfulness, faithfulness, and fame.  Most of us define ourselves by one or several of these things.  We value our worth as individuals by how well we do in these areas of our lives.  We compare ourselves to others based on these things.  If we see ourselves as successful in these things, we consider our lives to be good, and certainly worthy of God’s favor.

But look at today’s verse.  Paul came to a point where he no longer considered them of any value at all.  What happened?  Paul had a life-changing encounter with Christ.  He saw his life from a totally different perspective.  What once defined him as a person no longer defined him.  Paul now defined himself by the life of Christ in him.  Paul eagerly walked away from everything he knew and valued and put himself totally into his relationship with Christ.

I wonder how you might value your life.  What defines who you as a person?  When you look into a mirror, how do want others to evaluate your life?  What kind of a person do you strive to be known as?  Are you willing to give it all up for Christ?

If Christ does not define who you are as a person, you are wasting your life away.  Nothing else in life matters except our standing before God.  Jesus must be the center of who we are and all that we do.