Counted As Dung

I have been going through the Fundamental Beliefs nightly, and I did #11 this evening, 'Growing in Christ', and one of the verses that was listed in the study was Philippians 3:8.

It says "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ"

This is some of the most strongest language in all of scripture. Paul is saying in all the things he has gained and lost, he counts them all as 'dung'  that he may gain Christ. 

What conviction! In this world we have a lot of things: stuff consumes us! we never seem to have enough, and are often buying more stuff with nowhere to put it! But Paul has his priorities aright. He sees all that he has attained as rubbish (in some translations); refuse (in others); dung (in the KJV). Do we see our things as dung and Christ as our all in all? Can we honestly take inventory of our lives and equate our cars, our homes, our electronics, our books, our everything with dung? If a fire breaks out in your house, what do you try to save? The answer will reveal what means the most to you. 

What has our hearts? Our minds? What do we spend hours on end stressing, worrying, lusting for and about? If we were to replace the word 'dung' with any/everything that isn't related to Christ, it would force us to put a lot into perspective (here are some examples: I work for 'dung', I live in a 'dung' house, I drive a 'dung'-mobile...you get the picture?)

In all this talk about dung, here is what I am not saying. I am not saying we are supposed to toss out all the things we own in the garbage. Far from it. The LORD has many times helped us attain those things we have, but we must learn how to put more value on those things that are of a spiritual nature, and less value on those things that will perish.

May we daily seek first God's Kingdom and His righteousness, and put all our stuff in the place they rightly belong.