THURSDAY 3RD MARCH,2016
TOPIC: TRADE-OFFS (1)
TEXT: Philippians 3:8 “Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ”
First and foremost what is the term trade — off? — The act of balancing two things that you need or want, but are opposed to one another.
No matter how hard you try, you can’t ‘have it all’. Life’s too short! There are trade-offs you must be willing to make. Matthew chapter 19, shares a story of the man who wanted to follow Christ, but he didn’t want to give up his lifestyle. Paul, on the other hand, said, ‘l consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ.’
Let’s look at some trade-offs in life that are worth making:
1) Approval for accomplishment. For men-pleasers and social Christians this means realizing that accolades are like smoke; they evaporate quickly. Awards turn to rust. Financial gain is quickly spent or lost. You must come to the place where ‘doing good’ means more to you than ‘looking good’.
2) Security for significance. Greatness doesn’t lie in what you earn or own; it lies in what you give your life to accomplish. Instead of merely focusing on making a living, ask God to help you make a difference!
3) Exploration for expertise. Too many of us like to dabble, but the problem with dabbling is that
you never really become great at anything. Of course, when you’re young you should try new things and see where your strengths and interests lie, but as you grow older you must become more focussed.
You will go far in life if you ‘specialise’ in something. If you study the lives of great men and women in the Bible, you’ll find that they were single-minded and tenacious. So once you have found what God created and called you to do, stick with it and let the rest go. Focus on the surpassing worth of knowing Christ intimately, and to experience His personal fellowship and nearest in greater measure (Matt 6:33).
Seeking God first while the trade-offs such as looking good naturally comes in Praise God!
Thoroughfully examine your life by God’s help today, those things that He wants you to trade off.
MEDITATION: Isa. 53:10-12
STUDY THE BIBLE
MATT 10:1-25/LEV 7 & 8/PROV 22