Jesus: Our Treasure and Reward

Philippians 3:7-21

INTRO:

In sports, do you want to focus on the past or the present?

The present!

If you missed the shot, threw a bad throw, or let the person you’re defending score, should we hang on to that or move on from it?

you move on! Quickly!

Y’all have heard me talk about my time playing soccer before so I won’t take long here, but I did love playing that game.

It was fun.

It required you to run full sprint in one direction only to have to stop on a dime and turn and run the opposite direction.

Often times in soccer though… you mess up.

You take a bad touch… the ball gets too far away from you and your opponent steals it.

You make a pass that was too slow or too hard.

You jump for a ball too early and miss it with your head.

In soccer you make 10-20 mistakes a game.

In soccer, you have to quickly shake off your mistakes, ignore the immediate past, and move forward in the present!

You have to get out of your head and play for the moment.

It’s the same thing in Cross Country if someone passes you, forget it, dig deep, and get that spot back!

In volleyball, you missed the set last time, get it this time!

Sports are constantly about forgetting our mistakes and focusing on the reward, scoring the point, helping the team, winning the game.

In life, we need to recognize our mistakes.

We need to also remember the reward.

Jesus is the greatest treasure and reward.

Don’t give up the greatest treasure, Christ, for a lesser reward.

Let’s Read Philippians 3 this morning.

Philippians 3 (ESV)

7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 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 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained. 17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

EXEGESIS:

In verses 1-6, Paul basically tells the church of Philippi, “I’m a Christian of Christians.”

a hebrew of hebrews.

A pharisee of pharisees.

No one could act like a better Christian than Paul or be born with more Christian references than Paul.

Yet in vs. 7 Paul says,

“Whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.”

In vs. Philippians 3:8 Paul Says, “8 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”

Following Christ came at a Great cost for Paul.

Yet knowing Jesus was worth the cost to Paul at the same time.

I have gained Christ… therefore, nothing I have lost is a loss… It’s just stuff.

Do I have that attitude? Do you?

The things we spend time, money, and energy on is what we treasure.

Sports, youtube, social media… We pay the price of our money, time, and energy to partake in these things.

Is it worth it?

How much time did you spend this week on things that really weren’t worth the time you spent?

Now for the gut punch… How much time did we spend on what was absolutely time well spent, time at the feet of Jesus? …

ouch…

I’m not asking you to give up everything this morning.

But I am challenging you to give up something.

What is Jesus worth to you?

Is Jesus worth the cost of following Him?

We must be willing to give up friends, habits, reputations, and trivial pursuits when we recognize the true treasure in this life.

Jesus.

The name above every other name.

The one we run too.

Do we treasure Him?

Is He your greatest reward?

Even today after this discussion, Satan may be whispering in your ear,

Hey… you heard Ben. Now you feel guilty.

“Just ignore that. You won’t ever be good enough for Jesus and pursue Him enough.”

Satan loves getting us to focus on distractions.

Satan loves to get us to focus on the past rather than the present.

Satan loves to keep you stagnant and immobile.

Y’all, you are never too far gone for Christ.

Any time. Any day, you can say. Jesus. You are mine forevermore.

You are my treasure.

I’m going to forget the past and live every day every moment for you.

Why not start that today?

Let’s go to small groups this morning and discuss this further.

Guys we will be in the gym.

Ladies you will stay in here!