Category Archives: Superior

Bible, Conceit, Eternity, Pride, Scripture, Superior

I’M BETTER THAN YOU

ROMANS 3:9

“What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin;”

Don’t you just avoid snobby people? People who think they are better than everyone else can rub you the wrong way. You’ve heard it expressed that they are “looking down their nose” at everyone. Literally, that means they are tilting their head back and raising their chin in physical posture of superiority. The problem with tilting your head back like that is if you get caught in a rainstorm, you can drown, lol.

Paul uses the middle voice of the Greek word proechó, which is only used here in today’s verse. It means “to hold oneself before others.” (Strong’s). Paul never asks a question to which he did not have the answer. He has been discussing the differences between Gentiles and Jews the past two chapters. He knows that both groups have their own sense of superiority over the other, but the truth is neither was superior. Both were doomed for eternal destruction unless they responded to the Lord.

APPLICATION

The Topical Lexicon says, “The apostle’s rhetorical question refutes the idea that covenant possession or moral striving places anyone closer to justification apart from faith in Jesus Christ.” In Proverbs 6:17 we are told the Lord hates “haughty eyes.” He hates those who think they are better than others. Now, when I say He hates them, I mean He hates their heart attitude. Of course, He loves them and wants them to come to Him, but He will not tolerate their outlandish attitudes.

The attitude of the Gentiles and Jews still exists today, even in our churches. The Baptists think they are better because of their doctrinal stance on eternal security. The Catholics believe they have the true church. The Church of Christ would argue their church is THE church. One day, when we arrive in heaven, we are going to be surprised at who we find and don’t find there.

How’s your heart attitude today towards others? Are you sitting in judgment over them? Or have you humbled yourself to the point that these issues don’t matter? God needs humbled servants who are willing to do whatever He asks. He may ask you to serve someone you think is unreachable. Remember, you are just the vessel.

Father God, mold and remold me into the vessel You can use to reach whomever You send my way.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Excellence, Jesus, Scripture, Superior, Value

SURPASSING VALUE

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.

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