The Biggest Loser

The Biggest Loser: Christian Perspectives on Eternal Gain

Oct 4, 2020 – 18th Sunday after Pentecost | Philippians 3:4–14

Presidential Debate Fallout Analysis

The highly anticipated debate between President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden has now become a part of history. Many tuned in to watch this event on Tuesday evening. I'm curious, what were your thoughts? Did you feel it was worth your time? Regardless of your opinion, it was more of a brawl than a debate, with insults and attacks flying back and forth, but lacking substance.

In the days that followed, political pundits have been busy proclaiming winners and analyzing who will benefit politically as we approach the November third election. Although I'm uncertain about who emerged victorious, it is clear that the American voter ended up being the biggest loser.

When we talk about winners and losers, losing is never a pleasant experience. That is especially true for someone like President Trump, who often humorously claims in his ads, "We're going to keep on winning and winning until you're tired of winning!"

Is losing always a negative thing? Let's consider the reality show "The Biggest Loser," where the person who lost the most weight was crowned the winner. In that context, losing was the ultimate goal.

For Christians, losing can also be seen as winning. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, wrote, "But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord. For his sake, I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ" (Philippians 3:7-8).

The Challenging Race of Christian Life

Paul compares the Christian life to a challenging race. It's not a sprint for the faint-hearted but a long and arduous journey filled with obstacles. To succeed, one cannot be burdened by worldly cares. This race is not one that we have chosen; rather, it is Christ Jesus who has chosen us.

Paul uses the word "captured" in verse 12, stating, "I press on to make it my own because Christ Jesus has made me his own." Paul's dramatic encounter with Jesus occurred on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians. The Risen Jesus appeared to him, blinding him and eventually leading him to Damascus, where he was baptized and reborn in faith.

You may think that you are a disciple of Jesus by your own choice, but like Paul, you were captured by Jesus. As Jesus himself said, no one can come to Him unless the Father draws them (John 6:44). Jesus reached out to you with His Gospel and Baptism, setting you on this Christian path in a world that often lacks Christian values.

You have the option to drop out and walk away, but doing so means forfeiting the prize laid up by Jesus—the upward call of God in Christ, which is eternal life with God in heavenly glory. To attain this prize, Paul instructs us to consider all worldly things as losses. Those who cling to worldly happiness, material possessions, comforts, and achievements hinder themselves from attaining eternal life.

On the other hand, those who are willing to lose from a worldly perspective are the true winners. Paul states that they consider everything in this earthly realm as rubbish compared to knowing Christ and having the righteousness that comes from God through faith in Him (Philippians 3:8-9).

Enduring Loss Navigating Christian Faith

Losing weight can be incredibly challenging. It requires giving up the things we love, like indulging in sumptuous meals. We know that indulgence is unhealthy, and maintaining a healthy weight necessitates a change in lifestyle, including avoiding sweets and carbs. It means finding comfort, joy, and peace in other aspects of life. But giving up what we love and facing hunger pangs is undoubtedly tough.

Being a Christian and following Jesus in this race of faith is similarly difficult. There are numerous "pounds" to shed and losses to endure. These "pounds" represent our earthly idolatries, fleshly indulgences, and reliance on our own works, all of which hinder us from fully embracing God's upward call in Christ.

We are aware of this, but the allure of worldly things is strong, while God and eternal life may seem distant. The devil, the world, and our own desires make material goods, concerns, and pleasures seem inviting, making it difficult, unthinkable, or costly to deny them for the sake of Christ. Who wants to suffer in order to win?

American Perceptions of Suffering and Faith

I recently heard an author on TV discussing his new book about Americans. He mentioned that people from other countries often perceive Americans as weak because they seem unaccustomed to suffering. There is some truth to this observation. Compared to many people around the world, Americans generally enjoy a high standard of living and do not often face the same hardships.

Even during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, any shortages we experience tend to be brief and non-life-threatening. This comfort can sometimes lead us to believe that we are entitled to a life free from suffering, as seen in the unrest in our cities where we often avoid confronting destructive forces.

This attitude can also apply to our spiritual lives, particularly as Christians. When things are going well—when we have comfort, health, and security—we may feel strong in our faith. However, when we encounter loss or hardship, we may recoil, complain, or even blame God. Yet, these earthly comforts, while enjoyable, do not lead us to eternal life. They can distract us from wholeheartedly following Jesus and steer us towards destruction.

To run the race of faith successfully, we must view these earthly things as insignificant compared to our relationship with Jesus. As the Apostle Peter wrote, we should rejoice when we share in Christ's sufferings, knowing that our true joy and reward come when His glory is revealed.

Letting Go of Worldy Loss for Eternal Gain

In today's passage, Paul addresses a profound loss that Christians must let go of to gain eternal life: our self-righteousness. This pride, inherited from Adam, corrupts our nature and leads us to believe that we can earn a righteous standing before God.

Paul himself deeply understood this struggle, boasting about his impeccable religious credentials: "If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more" (Philippians 3:4-6). Despite these impressive achievements, they mean nothing before God's perfect standard of righteousness, as Jesus affirmed: "Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:20).

Paul, like all of us, recognized that our perceived goodness falls short of God's glory (Romans 3:23) and our best efforts are inadequate (Isaiah 64:6). True righteousness comes only through faith in Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:9), which is graciously given by God through His Word and sacraments. Therefore, let go of earthly pride and follow Paul's example in pursuing the heavenly prize (Philippians 3:13-14). Despite trials, we find true victory in Christ and await our ultimate reward.

Eternal Rewards Beyond Compare

It is indeed challenging to consider everything we value in this life as worthless. Imagine the difficulty of facing judgment, believing that our achievements and goodness guarantee entry into God's presence, only to hear Him say, "Depart from me, you who practice lawlessness!" (Matthew 7:23).

Conversely, think about the joy of standing before the Lord on that final day, having surrendered everything worldly and yet hearing Jesus say, "Welcome, blessed of my Father. Come and inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 25:34).

Dear fellow believers, even though the world may see us as the biggest losers, in Christ, we are victorious. This life is not easy—it is a journey filled with trials and losses. Let us, like St. Paul, forget what is behind, press onward, and strive toward the goal of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14). The victory in Christ that awaits us is beyond compare!