PHILIPPIANS 3:8

More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them mere rubbish, so that I may gain Christ,”

I remember my dad telling me two things to never skimp on – tools and shoes. I know, that sounds kind of weird. Dad believed if you bought a mediocre tool, it wouldn’t be long until you had to buy it again. But if you spent the extra money to get a good one, it would last you a lifetime. Same with shoes. My dad had an extra wide shoe and couldn’t just walk in and buy a pair in most places. So, he spent the extra money to order his from a shoe company (this was in the days long before Amazon). He knew those shoes would last.

Paul isn’t talking about tools or shoes in today’s verse, but he is talking about something worth so much more. He is talking about “the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus.” The Greek word for “surpassing value” is huperechó. We only see this word used five times in the New Testament, three of those in Philippians. The word comes from hyper (beyond, above) and exo (have). It has the idea of excellence or superiority.

APPLICATION

Back in Philippians 2:3, Paul uses this word to tell us to consider one another as more important than ourselves. The phrase “as more important” is huperechó. That’s hard for us to do. We never want to put someone above us, do we? But if there is one thing I have learned through my years is to be humble costs you nothing. Haughtiness, however, can cost you everything.

And in one of my favorite verses (Philippians 4:7), Paul tells us the peace of God surpasses all understanding. There we see huperechó again. Of course, this peace comes in the midst of trying circumstances. He tells us not to be anxious. His peace is superior to our anxiety. His peace far outweighs any trouble we are facing.

What do you value today? Knowing Christ is priceless. Knowing Christ is superior. Knowing Christ is above all. That’s what we should all value. His worth will never fade. The cost of not knowing Him is far too high. And as is true about most things, we don’t value what cost us nothing. Knowing Christ will cost you everything – your whole life. But the payoff is literally out of this world.

I cannot begin to explain how much knowing You means to me, O Lord. Knowing You know me blows me away.