Get a Life: Part 2, What is Important to Me?

Philippians 3:7-14

By Mike Hardin

Sermon 2 of 5 in the series Get a Life!

Philippians 3:7-14 (NIV)

⁷But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ ⁹and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. ¹⁰I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

¹²Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Introduction

Many years ago there was an ad in a Tucumcari, New Mexico paper. It was in the Available and Wanted section and went like this: “Marriage minded man with one hundred fifty irrigated acres of farmland seeks marriage minded woman with John Deere tractor. When replying, send picture of the tractor.” Friends, there is a man who knows what is important to him.

This morning, as we continue this series, I want to pose this question for your consideration: “What is really important to me?” Our subject is values and they are crucial in determining whether or not you have a life. Last week we looked at your purpose in life and the reason why you are here. You may understand your purpose yet you will need values to support your vision. They express how you need to behave while moving in the direction of your dream. If not, your dream can become a nightmare, taunting you over the life you are missing.

Ask yourself this question: “What would I be doing with my time if I knew I only had six healthy months to live?” It might help you to see clearly what you really value. Obviously the adjective “really” communicates that we have real values and we have espoused values, those we pay lip service to and those by which we live. We can have vain values and we can have substantial values. How do we know the difference? We must clarify them.

Outline

1. Our Priorities Change with Our Perspective (3:7-8a)
   1. Learning the Truth Modifies our Perspective
   2. Knowing Christ Modifies our Perspective
      
2. Our Priorities Determine Our Purpose (3:8b-11)
   1. All Priorities are Meaningless apart from Christ.
   2. Our Purpose is to be Righteous (Rightly related to God).
      1. There is no such thing as being "self-righteous"
         1. There is a distinction between being morally righteous and legally righteous.
         2. Only by Faith can we be rightly related to God.
      2. A Right Relationship with God means Christ lives through us.
         1. We share in the power of his resurrection
         2. We share in the fellowship of his suffering.
            
3. Our Priorities are Revealed in our Passion (3:12-14)
   1. Passion is revealed in focus. "One thing I do..." (v. 13)
   2. Passion is exclusive. "Forgetting what is behind."
   3. Passion results in action. "straining... I press on"

Based on the sermon by Brett Selby.