Have you ever had to take inventory before? Maybe you’re a business owner or an employee of a company that requires annual inventory. If not, I’m sure you’ve taken inventory of what’s in your kitchen especially if you are getting ready to prepare a meal for your family or friends and so what is the first thing you do? You check your cupboards or pantry to see if you have the proper ingredients and if not, you make a list of the things you need to purchase at the grocery store or local market.
In business we are required by law to be “honest” in our assessments during inventory. Many years ago I used to work in retail and I remember the times we were required to take inventory of “everything” in the store and I mean everything. We could not leave anything out, and we were required to be accurate in our calculations. In life whether we are aware of it or not, we are constantly taking inventory and making assessments of the things we have or don’t have, the question is are we being accurate? Are we forgetting something? As we make assessments of our life are we leaving anything out?
In Philippians chapter 3 verses 7-9 the Apostle Paul says, “I once thought these things were ‘valuable’, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. vs 8 Yes ‘everything else’ is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as ‘garbage’ (worthless) so that I could gain Christ and become one with him.”
As I mentioned earlier we are all (knowingly or unknowingly) taking inventory of our lives: For some we look at life and how hard it is. We may be frustrated because of our financial situation. We may be jealous of what our neighbors (or family and co-workers) have. We may even be irritated by the fact that we don’t have the job or career we “really” want. What the Apostle Paul is saying here is that he has knowingly made an honest assessment of his life. The “things” he once thought were ‘valuable’ to him are no longer that. He made an honest assessment and came to the true understanding that the infinite value in Life comes ONLY from Jesus and knowing him. You might be asking yourself “How?” “How can I stop looking at and being ‘consumed’ with the things I have or “don’t” have and carefully and honestly see the “True Value” in Jesus? I’m glad you asked, picture if you will a “warehouse” it’s your warehouse containing “everything” you posses, including your present circumstances whether good or bad and in this warehouse you also have a chest full of “gold” but you overlook it because everything else in your warehouse has captured your attention which causes you to not see it. Why? Because while we’re ‘busy’ taking inventory of our life we are failing to make a “complete” assessment. We’re so focused on all the other stuff, that we are unable to see that right in the middle of everything else in our warehouse is something that is MORE valuable than anything else. So how do we focus on this treasure that has been in our warehouse since day one? Take NEW inventory and “include” Jesus as being the MOST important and most VALUABLE asset in your life. What does the “value” of Jesus offer us: God’s word says that he “…works ALL things together for GOOD, to those that love God and are called according to His purpose” Another promise is “…and NOTHING shall by any means hurt you…” Another nugget of truth of knowing Jesus is, “I CAN do ALL THINGS through Christ who gives me strength” Friends, He is our Life, Purpose and Peace…everything else is “garbage” it’s worthless compared to Jesus. Taking our eyes off of the “garbage” and putting our focus on Jesus is the most valued treasure we could ever obtain.
“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a TREASURE that a man/woman discovered hidden in a field…” ~ Knowing Jesus.
For more go Ponce Church website and download Pastor Rick’s newest
messages, “The Value of Jesus”
