Philippians 3:7-11
But 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. I want to know Christ and the power of
his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings,
becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to
the resurrection from the dead.
New International Version (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible
Society
But 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. I want to know Christ and the power of
his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings,
becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to
the resurrection from the dead.
New International Version (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible
Society
By My Side: The Message Behind the Song
In 2nd Corinthians 4:17, Paul refers to his afflictions as
“light”. Take a look at 2nd Corinthians 11:21-31 and see
what he calls “light”. He was flogged several times (as in
his back was cut open), beaten with rods, stoned and left
for dead, shipwrecked 3 times, went without food and
water for days at a time. A snake once bit him. His own
countrymen rejected him as well as his enemies.
LIGHT!?
Kinda’ makes my spilled coffee on the way to work look like
a luxury rather than a hardship. On top of that, in 2nd
Corinthians 12:10, he says that he…wait for it…delights in
hardships! Makes me wonder if Paul had one too many
hardships. Sounds like he should have taken a break
from writing the Bible for a while.
It doesn’t make any sense. How can Paul say that the
hardships of life are “light” and “delightful”? Actually in
these verses he gives four reasons why he calls them
light and delightful. But before we look at these nice, pat
answers it’s important to recognize that sometimes the
pain that life tends to bring can become too loud for the
one in pain to hear any answer. But there are many ways
to comfort one another without using words.
In 2nd Corinthians 4:17, Paul refers to his afflictions as
“light”. Take a look at 2nd Corinthians 11:21-31 and see
what he calls “light”. He was flogged several times (as in
his back was cut open), beaten with rods, stoned and left
for dead, shipwrecked 3 times, went without food and
water for days at a time. A snake once bit him. His own
countrymen rejected him as well as his enemies.
LIGHT!?
Kinda’ makes my spilled coffee on the way to work look like
a luxury rather than a hardship. On top of that, in 2nd
Corinthians 12:10, he says that he…wait for it…delights in
hardships! Makes me wonder if Paul had one too many
hardships. Sounds like he should have taken a break
from writing the Bible for a while.
It doesn’t make any sense. How can Paul say that the
hardships of life are “light” and “delightful”? Actually in
these verses he gives four reasons why he calls them
light and delightful. But before we look at these nice, pat
answers it’s important to recognize that sometimes the
pain that life tends to bring can become too loud for the
one in pain to hear any answer. But there are many ways
to comfort one another without using words.
| Quick Links: | Home | Tour Dates | Purchase | Booking | The Tacklebox | FAQs | Links | Contact Us |
| For broken links, questions or errors, please contact the webmaster. ©2007 by Scott Campbell/Tacklebox Ministry Music/BMI. All rights reserved. |
That being said…
2nd Corinthians 4:16-18 Paul tells us that in spite of all these hardships, we do not lose heart. Why?
1. We are being prepared for heaven: Outwardly we are wasting away but inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
2. These hardships are achieving something for us: an eternal glory that will be so awesome that these hardships will
seem very small by comparison.
3. These hardships are temporary. What God has in mind for us is eternal. 2nd Corinthians 12:7-10.
4. But God said, “my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”
When was God’s power made perfect in Paul’s life? When the hardships of life made him weak
Why did his weakness make God’s power perfect? Because Paul could not attribute any strength he had to himself.
God gets all the glory.
When was Paul truly strong? When he was weak.
Why did he delight in hardships? Because when he was weak he was strong with God’s strength.
Something else occurred to me when I was thinking about hardships - the difference between hardships before I was saved
and after. It would be a very cool testimony to say that before I was saved I lived a miserable life of hardships the whole time I
was without Jesus. But the fact is there were times before I was saved that I would call good times. But as I think about
those “good times”, I would have to agree with Paul and say “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”(Philippians 3:8)…
But I’d rather walk the lonely valleys with You by my side
than to face a day of sunshine without you.
‘Cause a life that’s lived without You is a one-way street to pain.
It’s a life that’s guaranteed to always lose.
So take me to the mountains or the valleys down below,
‘cause my mind’s made up I’m holding on to You.
2nd Corinthians 4:16-18 Paul tells us that in spite of all these hardships, we do not lose heart. Why?
1. We are being prepared for heaven: Outwardly we are wasting away but inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
2. These hardships are achieving something for us: an eternal glory that will be so awesome that these hardships will
seem very small by comparison.
3. These hardships are temporary. What God has in mind for us is eternal. 2nd Corinthians 12:7-10.
4. But God said, “my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”
When was God’s power made perfect in Paul’s life? When the hardships of life made him weak
Why did his weakness make God’s power perfect? Because Paul could not attribute any strength he had to himself.
God gets all the glory.
When was Paul truly strong? When he was weak.
Why did he delight in hardships? Because when he was weak he was strong with God’s strength.
Something else occurred to me when I was thinking about hardships - the difference between hardships before I was saved
and after. It would be a very cool testimony to say that before I was saved I lived a miserable life of hardships the whole time I
was without Jesus. But the fact is there were times before I was saved that I would call good times. But as I think about
those “good times”, I would have to agree with Paul and say “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”(Philippians 3:8)…
But I’d rather walk the lonely valleys with You by my side
than to face a day of sunshine without you.
‘Cause a life that’s lived without You is a one-way street to pain.
It’s a life that’s guaranteed to always lose.
So take me to the mountains or the valleys down below,
‘cause my mind’s made up I’m holding on to You.