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…
Philippians 3:8 NIV
Garbage
The amount of waste is a growing problem around the globe, with 2.01 billion tonnes of solid waste generated every year. While high-income countries account for only 16% of the world’s population, they generate 34% of the world’s waste, and unfortunately, Canada produces more waste per person than any other country. In a day, each Canadian produces 2.33 kg of waste on average. Ontario produces the most waste in Canada, with over 10 million metric tonnes in 2018. Almost 370,000 tonnes of plastic were diverted from landfills in 2020.
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Many people have a lot to boast about – their family, their job, their athletic ability, their finances – and some spend a lot of time doing so. The Kingdom of God takes another view of this. In Philippians 3:8, Paul the apostle speaks to this, as someone who was a blessed young man: “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…” Paul had every reason to boast—his heritage, his zeal, his righteousness under the law. Yet, he considered it all worthless compared to the treasure of knowing Christ. Let’s take time to examine our own hearts. What do we value most? What are we clinging to that might be keeping us from deeper intimacy with Jesus? Paul’s surrender wasn’t begrudging—it was joyful. He discovered that everything else fades in comparison to the richness of a relationship with Christ. Knowing Jesus isn’t just intellectual—it’s personal, transformative, and eternal. It’s the kind of knowing that changes how we live, love, and hope.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley