by J. Ryan
Our Lord Jesus ought to have the preeminence, the first place in our thoughts and in our actions too. Col. 1:1818And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:18) is quoted in this connection: "That in all things He might have the preeminence." Then again we have often heard it said that "Christ is all," or as it is put in the JND translation, "Christ is everything." Col. 3:1111Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. (Colossians 3:11).
There is a great deal of difference between these two concepts. In the first it is put as a matter of computing relative values—putting various items into a scale and arranging them in order of relative importance so that Christ has the first place. That process might leave room for a wide variety of other interests and time-occupiers, all of which are subordinated to Himself, each of them in their place on a descending scale. It is indeed a noble objective to seek that He should have the first place. One has to confess that it is often not so. Have we not from time to time placed family, business, or just plain self at the top of our scale of values?
The second statement (Col. 3:1111Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. (Colossians 3:11)) that "Christ is everything" goes well beyond the question of relative eminence. It eliminates all thought of relative values or a range of priorities. It tells us that our Savior should be so esteemed as to eclipse all other values. Nothing should be in competition with Himself. He is the altogether lovely One beside whom there is none else. We are here brought to a high place where He stands alone.
If we put these two statements together (Col. 1:18; 3:1118And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:18)
11Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. (Colossians 3:11)), we have a call to devotedness and piety that we know so little of as almost to prohibit discussion, but there are two illustrations that come to mind: Paul in the New Testament, and Ruth in the Old Testament.
Paul was not merely a talker; he walked it. The little letter to the saints at Philippi discloses the practical working out, the actual consequences that developed in one who held Christ as preeminent and embraced Him as "everything." On the scale of relative values he could say, "Though I be nothing." 2 Cor. 12:1111I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing. (2 Corinthians 12:11). Self was wiped out in order that his Lord and Savior might have the first place, and that so thoroughly that there was nothing competing for a slot in his scale of values, nothing but Christ.
Nothing but Christ, as on we tread,
The Gift unpriced—God's living Bread,
With staff in hand and feet well shod,
Nothing but Christ—the Christ of God.
Everything loss for Him below,
Taking the cross where'er we go;
Showing to all, where once He trod,
Nothing but Christ—the Christ of God.
Nothing save Him, in all our ways,
Giving the theme for ceaseless praise;
Our whole resource along the road,
Nothing but Christ-the Christ of God.