Philippians 3 reminds me of working in the restaurant industry. Those that work for tips learn very quickly that attentive service can earn you more money, but every waiter has also been stiffed. This is crushing for newbies, but experienced servers press on to create a great experience for everyone else. Those that excel over time will not allow the gratuity to define their value. Today’s lesson is about going home after our shift. Paul begins with a pep-talk to the believers in Philippi. “Rejoice in the Lord!” Paul takes joy in encouraging them, knowing our critics love to point out our failures. He cautions, “Watch out for those dogs” that stack up religious duties on top of simple faith. Note that Paul makes a sharp contrast between those who require adherence to the Law, and “we who serve God by His Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus”. If anyone could earn righteousness through the Law, it was Paul. He recites the long menu of things that make him special; “Circumcised on the eighth day… of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews… a Pharisee… as for righteousness based on the law, faultless”. Paul even includes his zeal for “persecuting the church” as proof of his service. Very few of us can claim to be faultless at anything, and that is the problem. If our worthiness is based on what we produce, then our spiritual life will be hot and cold. Paul completely rejects performance-based faith. Friend, we do not work for tips. We can add nothing to Christ’s work. Although Paul rose to the top of his profession, he says of his efforts, “I now consider loss for the sake of Christ”. Paul’s life was transformed by God’s unlimited mercy.
Paul realized that all of his striving was insignificant beside “the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord”. He says, of his remarkable achievements, “I consider them garbage”. Paul taught that “righteousness… comes from God on the basis of faith”, more specifically, “the power of His resurrection”. We cannot rush past the importance of that statement. The resurrection is everything. It is the reason for our hope, and the proof that Jesus has the authority to forgive sin. Paul wrote, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins” (1 Cor15:17). By His sacrifice, Jesus fulfilled every requirement of the Law. Now, by faith, our obligation is fully satisfied. Paul adds, “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me”. God demonstrated His grace through Paul, so that Paul’s life would be overflowing as an example to others.
Paul closes the chapter with a reminder that this is not our home. Our shift here is brief compared to eternity. We can easily get distracted by the disappointments and sorrows of life. Too often we find ourselves looking back with regret. Paul is focused on going home. “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me”. He is ready to clock out when it is time because, “God has called me heavenward”. Paul exhorts, “Join together… following my example”. Many of us do not have a godly role model to follow, so we can be easily fooled by charismatic frauds with empty promises. He instructs us to be wary, because “many live as enemies of the cross of Christ”. The cross is much more than a symbol. It is the place where my sins were nailed, and payment was made to set me free. False teachers omit the cross. Instead, “Their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame”. He says, “Their mind is set on earthly things”. Our entire tab has been paid in full by the Savior. Savoring this truth motivates us to serve others with genuine affection. Paul reminds us, “our citizenship is in heaven”. Soon we will all go home. Until it is our time, “we eagerly await a Savior… the Lord Jesus Christ”. My friend, what are you waiting for?