Joy Over Comparison
Introduction
Watch out for fake gospels. (1-3)
They acted religiously.
They compared horizontally.
They focused externally.
Reject false gods. (4-7)
Identity
Social status
Biblical knowledge
Religious activity
Moral lifestyle
He’s telling us that it is possible to love your family and take your family to church, and take your kids to church, just like your parents took you to church. Have a good reputation in your culture and your society in the community where you live; to have biblical knowledge, to know the Word, to love the Word and even to teach the Word. On top of that, to not just be involved in church but to be active, zealous in church activity. Then, on top of all that, to be a decent moral person; it is possible to have all of those things and come to the end of your life and it be written across the top of it, “Wasted!”
Value a relationship with Christ more than everything. (8-11)
Value salvation forever.
Value the power for life.
Value satisfaction greater than suffering.
Suffering is the taking away of our job. That brings suffering. Our finances. If we were to lose our home, if we were to lose our children or our spouse: Suffering. We were to lose our reputation, our esteem among our peers. We were to lose our strength, our health, our sight, our hearing. All those things would bring about suffering. It’s where suffering comes from.
However, here’s the deal: If we have written “loss” over all those things, then when God calls us to forfeit some of those things, it’s actually not a loss because you’ve already lost them.