The Trade
The Trade - Philippians 3
Growing up, I traded just about everything. I traded baseball cards, I traded pet gerbils, bikes, and RC cars. Nothing I had was permanent, I was always looking to trade up and improve my position. This did drive my mom a bit nuts, and now we get to laugh about it when we stroll down memory lane. I still have this in me to this day, but it looks a little different. For some reason, I do not get attached to things. I will quickly discard, donate, or give things away now instead of trading. It’s interesting, not sure where this comes from.
I share all that to get us on the topic of trading. Every day we navigate trading in some shape or form. When it comes to work, we trade our time for money. When it comes to life and living, we trade our money for things. With decisions, we are often trading quality for cost, or quality for speed. Trading is everywhere in life, and trading is what Philippians is all about. Check this out, in chapter one, and Paul talked about the trade as trading this life for the next, to die is gain. In chapter two, we read about trading a self-center life for others-centered life. And here in chapter three, it’s about trading self-righteousness for righteousness in Christ Jesus.
“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.” - Philippians 3:7 NIV
There is Paul’s trade. It is moving past the past, trading self-righteousness for Jesus. Remember, Paul had a significant past, and he also had a bit of a checkered past when it now comes to being a follower and apostle of Christ.
“though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.” - Philippians 3:4-6 NIV
With these that were continually bringing up Paul’s past, trying to challenge him, question his authority, and derail his mission, Paul lays it out here. Paul has every reason in the flesh to boast and be prideful of his accomplishments. Paul was the man; he stood higher and was more righteous and worthy than all the others. Paul also had a past that was not honoring to Jesus with how he persecuted the church and killed Christians. But none of this mattered anymore, because he traded up, Paul traded those gains of this world for righteousness in Christ.
So what about you, what about me. What in our past is derailing us, or causing challenges? Is there a significant issue from your past that is a current hurdle, and something that your enemy is using to derail you continually? Make the trade! Trade your past, your history with drugs, depression, alcohol, financial addiction, sexual immorality, or whatever is holding you up...trade it for Christ, and His righteousness. It is time to get past your past.
“What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage that I may gain Christ and 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 on the basis of faith.” - Philippians 3:8-9 NIV
Whatever is in our past, good, bad, ugly, self-righteousness, and pride. Whatever it is, its time to trade up. All those things Paul says here consider them garbage. All the learnings, law, structure, and matters that came with being a top Pharisees Paul says they were garbage. Technically Paul didn’t say garbage; the translators are very polite and courteous. Paul considered them horse shit. All of these worldly things that brought honor to the religious Paul considered a pile of dung. Paul has moved his focus from earthly to heavenly focused.
“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” - Philippians 3:10-11 NIV
This is the ultimate trade, the trade that will radically change and alter our lives. This trade starts with knowing and following Jesus. Giving our lives to him and coming to the point of conversion. But that is just the beginning; the real work and journey is a life long commitment to transformation and resurrection.
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” - Philippians 3:12 NIV
The transformation and daily process of resurrection is the journey with Jesus himself. We must lean into this process, and as Paul described, “press on” into it. So no matter your past, no matter the decisions you or I made yesterday, last week, last year or a few decades ago, today is the day for the trade, a trade of a lifetime.
“Brothers and sisters, 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, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 3:13-14 NIV
Let this sink in. Paul, the author of most of the Christian Bible and one of the greatest Christians to ever walk the earth, said he has not arrived, he has not fully taken hold of it yet. May that be an encouragement to us all today, we are all still growing and developing and transforming into a new creation. But here is the key, its the next sentence Paul writes. But one thing I do is forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead. It’s time to move past your past, and press on towards the future. Make that trade today.
Lord, thank you for Jesus. Thank you for forgiveness and our ability to find and discover a new life in you. Help us today to get past our past, to make the greatest and most meaningful trade possible. May we be focused on our citizenship in heaven, not on Earth. We love you. Amen.