Philippians 3:1-15
The Apostle opens this third chapter with the reminder that he was writing the same things to them; for him it was not grievous; for them it was safe. That is, he: was having to repeat himself, and he didn’t consider it out of the way, because it was safe for them.
I sometimes have wondered in connection with the little talks we have had with the young people, that after all they amount to a good deal the same line of things, and if one didn’t have scriptural sanction for repetition, perhaps he would not be encouraged to consider the same line of things. Young people in all ages meet with the same problems in life; have the same difficulties, and the same decisions to make. God’s Word is the only solution of the difficulties for the young Christian.
In addressing the young people on the subject of success, I am not supposed to be addressing those in their sins and outside of Christ, but those who have confessed the Lord Jesus as Saviour and Lord, and to them the subject of success is a very vital one. The word “success” is a very rare word in the Bible. I haven’t been able to find it but once (Josh. 1:6-8).
It is a word found very frequently in the vocabulary of the present day. There never was a day when that line of things was more pressed upon the young than now. In order that their lives might be lived in a way to contribute to their own encouragement, and the good of society, they must make what the world terms a success.
If we are to be guided by worldly standards and ideals we will live a different life from that mapped out for young Christians in the Word of God, and it is to contrast these two standards—the ideals of the Word of God, and the ideals of the world about us—I wish to speak now.
You hear someone referred to in the world; one of the questions generally asked about him is as to his standing or accomplishments, and one of the requisites to a satisfactory answer is to be able to say, “He has made quite a success.” If that question is answered satisfactorily, there is a sigh of relief. That is thought to be essential. In the world, we know success consists in having accumulated a certain amount of property or monies. A man who can write his name at the bottom of a check, and perhaps that check tells its story in six or seven figures, that one is in the eyes of the world, a success.
Here is another man kept busy going about looking after his interests—various properties. The world points at him, and says of him, “He is a successful citizen.”
Another one has not accumulated so much, but is a great political leader. The world pays tribute to him.
In each case these men have lived in such a way as to place themselves in an enviable position in this world, and others look at them, and say, “That is fine; I wouldn’t mind being he myself!” That is what the world terms success. If you get a group of old school graduates together, who have been separated many years, they begin asking about this one and that one. The prime factor before all is to go over the list, and find out how each one has gotten along in the world. I have heard that so many times.
“What do you hear about Charlie?”
“He went out West, and went into the lumber business, and has a thriving big concern in Seattle. He has done fine.”
Everyone feels satisfied, and Charlie’s success reflects favorably on themselves. You find that all around. It is natural for us to be affected by these things—to come up to the standard acknowledged all around us.
When we face that line of things with the Word of God as the measuring stick—taking the Word of God into account—how different everything is going to appear. This Criterion—this Standard—never fails to tell the truth. God’s Word is the only standard by which you and I can judge these matters. If you get hold of a faulty one, how can your conclusions help being faulty?
I will just refer to a little recent experience to illustrate that. It is only a humble thing, but I believe it illustrates the point: I wanted a new pipe for my furnace. I took a measurement of the old pipe, and it came out exactly a 10” pipe. I ordered the pipe, and when it appeared, it didn’t fit at all, and I had a rather pointed argument with the one from whom I purchased it, and we couldn’t agree. I was baffled; I was so positive I was right. I found someone had cut an inch off the yard stick I used to take the measurement. I had the wrong standard. My conclusions were wrong, though I was absolutely sure I was right. So it is in measuring what is called, worldly success; what is the standard you are using?
In the third chapter of Philippians we have a man who started out with a worldly standard in view, and then he received a sudden spiritual shock that caused him to change right about face, adopted a new standard from that time to the day of his death, that revolutionized his whole life.
I believe it will do the same in its measure for any of us who are willing to make the exchange Saul of Tarsus made, when he started on that journey to Damascus with the papers in his pocket to bring to Jerusalem to be punished any who called upon the Lord’s name. What kind of a man was he in the eyes of the world? I suppose he had almost everything a man in the world values and covets. We get a list of things here at the beginning 4th verse. What a splendid lineage that is! Something to be proud of.
Splendid breeding.
“An Hebrew of the Hebrews” —that is true blue blood.
“As touching the law, a Pharisee;” that is his standing in the community; the Pharisees stood at the top notch.
“Concerning zeal” —there is energy— “persecuting the church.”
“Touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless:” there is reputation.
In his case there was not only reputation, but character too. What is he going to do with a start like that? How few get a start like that—a backing like that! What is he going to do with it? Cast it overboard, just have a wholesale house-cleaning, and start all over again! Just listen to what he says:
“What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.” What a change that was! It takes the mighty power of faith to enable that man to do that. He had seen the Lord in glory. He had experienced that light above the brightness of the sun at noon day, and that was a vision that never faded; it was ever present before him, and in view of that, he could cast all away, and say, “I count them but loss.”
(To be continued)