Losing Some to Gain More

One of my best sermons as a young college student came from Philippians 3:7-8, where Paul wrote:

"But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 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."

I spoke passionately about how we needed to count our plans, people, and possessions as “rubbish” compared to knowing Christ. I even had the audience write down the specific descriptions of things they valued, and then challenged them to bring that piece of paper forward to deposit the list in a trashcan in front of the auditorium. I felt so inspired, and the sermon seemed to be truly effective.

Actually, my experience with the biblical text was very shallow. For any of us to say we have “suffered the loss of all things” is disingenuous in our prosperous American society where everything is about upward mobility and accumulation of more stuff.
I was young at the time, with the promise of the world in front of me – so I knew very little about “loss.” How could I really understand the depth of this passage? I was sincere, but shallow in my efforts to embrace and teach this passage.
Our good and loving God has a way of making truth real in our lives in order to make us more mature and authentic in our faith. He has kindly helped me in this way, allowing me to understand a little more about “losses” and “gains” in my spiritual pilgrimage.

Possessions, People, and Plans
Recently our family has experienced some fresh losses as a direct result of our obedience to the call of God on our lives. Because of our commitment to pursue full-time ministry with Strategic Renewal, we left the security of the Sr. Pastor role and followed the Lord’s direction to move to Virginia. In the process, I had to give up my plans for the security and “success” of a mega-church pastor.
Recently, we sold our home in Minnesota (after two long years of double mortgage payments). This was an answer to prayer. Along the way, we lost a lot of savings and all of our home equity. The reality of losing possessions for the sake of Christ is much more real today than it was in college.
In the last six months, we have lost the physical presence of all three of our children in our home as each one has followed the call of God to marriage, work, or school. This is a “gain” for each of them, and a blessing to Christ’s kingdom, but the void parents feel is very real in seasons like this. We are learning to count even our children as “loss” for the sake of Christ and His purposes.
In a variety of other ways, our obedience to the call of God has involved loss of status, security, certainty, friendships, and even sleep. Of course, these losses are miniscule when contrasted with eternity’s reward for obedient service. Compared to the painful “losses” others we know are experiencing right now, our sacrifice may seem trivial. I have friends who have lost a spouse, a career, all financial security, and even their health in recent days. Still, they love and serve Christ.

Trading Loss for Gain
Having said all of this, I am not whining – but I am seeking a deeper level of worship. Sure, times of self-pity and carnal regret can surface. At those moments I am reminded that “a man’s life does not consist of the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:14) and that we must be willing to leave all, take up our cross, and follow Christ if we are to be classified as a true disciple (Luke 14:26-27).
Clearly, the trade-in is worth it – even though it is not easy. It is good to remember that with every loss, we can gain:
· A deeper knowledge of Christ, who was unencumbered by the trappings of this world. This knowledge is truly priceless (Philippians 3:7-8, 10).
· A mature and biblical perspective about the things that really matter in this life (Philippians 3:8).
· A powerful sense of Christ-reliance rather than self-reliance, where we discover the sufficiency of His work on the cross and His righteous life in us (Philippians 3:9).
· A new experience of the power of His resurrection, which brings new life out of death – and ultimate gain from our losses (Philippians 3:10).
· A fresh infusion of grace, that works most powerfully when we are weak (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

Our losses in life are God’s way of prying our fingers off our comfortable idols in order to free our hands to more fully embrace Christ as our all in all.

The Positive “Pathway of Price”
The challenge we face in today’s world is that we can actually prefer the commonplace pathway of our easy idols. It is the “broad way” of our culture and a difficult thing to relinquish.
That is why we have to turn our eyes on Jesus – so that the things of earth might grow strangely dim. He is our model in all things. Even though He knew all the glories of Heaven and had authority over the riches of this world, He described His lifestyle as one where He did not even have a place to lay His head (Matthew 8:20). No single life has transformed this world more than His, but His impact was completely unrelated to His net worth. It was directly connected to His selfless sacrifice.
In Philippians 3:7-8, Paul shows us how he was walking in the pathway of Christ. Paul counted all reliance on formal learning, social status, and notable accomplishments as “rubbish” or “dung”. The idea of “counting as loss” represents an accounting term and reflects a deliberate business transaction that rejects certain assets to gain something more valuable.
Although a brilliant, accomplished, and gifted leader in every respect, Paul always pursued the pathway of price. We read about the detailed losses he faced in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28. This list included a variety of dangers, life-threatening situations, and incredible traumas. This was all a testament of his resolve to be a “servant of Christ” – but in all of these situations, he received abundant grace and was laying up a sure reward in eternity.
Today, you may be facing loss. Consider the example of Paul. Turn your eyes on Jesus. Open your heart to the incalculable "gains" of knowing Christ. No matter what, keep living for the ultimate prize of a life that really matters.

Two Sides of Church Health

Can a pastor be spiritually healthy but lead a spiritually unhealthy congregation? Yes – but not for long.

Conversely, can a church be spiritually healthy but have an unhealthy pastor at the helm? Yes – but not for long.

Over time, a healthy ministry requires both healthy leadership and healthy followers. It is a two-sided coin.

Healthy Leader + Unhealthy Church:


Often a spiritually healthy pastor is called to a spiritually unhealthy church. Typically it is a congregation with a history of problems. In some cases a previous pastor wounded the church deeply and they are floundering in distrust or discord. Sometimes the church has been stuck in a rut of control games, petty infighting, or battles over “sacred cows.” Usually they have a history of churning through short-term pastors.


However, if they are willing to trust the leadership, respond in repentance and faith to the systematic teaching of God’s Word, get on their knees, and embrace a new outward-focused vision – health can prevail. If not, their petty dissensions will eventually suck the life out of every subsequent pastor. Each one leaves – looking for a better environment to serve and raise his family. Good for him. Sad for the church. Two steps forward, three steps back.


Healthy Church + Unhealthy Leader:


Sometimes a pastor falls into unhealthy patterns while leading a strong congregation. Perhaps he is overworked, physically ill, or encountering unresolved challenges at home. Usually the overlap of physical problems, emotional fatigue, and family conflicts begin to decimate him spiritually.


A healthy congregation will spot these symptoms and insist that action be taken to renew the pastor (or his marriage & family) back to health, no matter the cost. This is a wise and worthy course.


On the other hand, if the leadership team ignores the “elephant in the room” – simply hoping the pastor will get better – the situation is likely to implode. Eventually the pastor’s dysfunction will manifest in staff relationships, the quality of preaching, and the overall focus of the ministry. Well-founded suspicions and fears begin to distract everyone from the primary task. Either the condition of the pastor will eventually infect the culture of the church, or the pastor will leave under difficult circumstances. Everyone loses again.


The Pain of Dual Dysfunction:


Pilots who lose visibility in the cockpit, or fly into severe storms, will experience “spatial disorientation” (vertigo) if they do not trust their objective instrument readings. Many a pilot has lost his life because he trusted his own senses in the midst of inclement and confusing conditions.

Pastors and churches can get into the same dilemma. If a pastor does not trust the things that are objective and true (God’s Word, wise counsel, the assurance of the call, etc.) it is easy to lose perspective and throw in the towel, often too soon. This is fresh on my mind as I am currently finishing the final edits for a new book with Moody Press titled Defying Gravity - How to Survive the Storms of Pastoral Ministry. The book examines nine objective gauges that leaders must trust when they are navigating difficult personal circumstances or ministry troubles.
A church that is unhealthy also needs objective input. Sick patients should trust the wisdom and objective tests of a doctor. Ill churches need wise, bold, and godly input from experienced leaders who do not have a “dog in the fight” and can clearly point out the problems and recommend solutions. These counselors could be a denominational representative or a group of wise pastoral consultants from other churches.


The Joy of Mutual Health:


When a godly pastor leads a church for many years and is faithfully maintaining his spiritual, emotional, physical, and family health – it is a strong indicator that the church he shepherds will become strong. Over time, a healthy pastor, leading a responsive church, is privileged to see a ministry that honors Christ and enjoys transformational impact on the community for the Gospel.


A healthy and godly congregation becomes wind beneath his wings. Their love for Christ and one another dominates the congregational culture. They are a people who cherish the Word, pray diligently, and serve with gladness. It doesn’t get any better than this for people who are committed to making an eternal impact during their short earthly journey.


Toward Balanced, Biblical Health:


So, what should a pastor and congregation do about these ideals? First, a pastor should define what “health” looks like for him and his family. He should set priorities that help him maintain those values. He must have the courage to say “no” to the things that distract and damage, not out of egotistical self-preservation, but for the sake of his family, his church, and his Lord’s honor. He must find rhythms that will balance his passion with seasons of rest and renewal.
He should lead his staff and church in such a way that they will cherish the power of God’s Word and love the pursuit of spiritual intimacy with Christ through prayer. He should teach them to have a high view of every “saint” in the church to accomplish official and Spirit-empowered ministry. He must work hard to keep the main thing the main thing as they savor the nobility of the Great Commission.


The congregation should pray for their pastor and church leaders with great consistency and passion. Prayer will not only be a channel of spiritual power and encouragement for the pastors – it will keep the church members’ hearts warm to the will of the Lord and the needs of the leadership.


Of course, they should accept biblical teaching, not simply as the ideas of men but as the Word of God (1 Thessalonians 2:13). They should strive to serve, and NOT to be served (Matthew 20:28). They should pray for eyes to see the harvest and express the compassion of Christ at every opportunity as they live among the community and the nations.


With this in mind, I feel deep passion about the mission of Strategic Renewal. We have the joy of strengthening pastors, leading them into “times of refreshing” that come from the presence of the Lord (Acts 3:20). We equip them to be renewal leaders in their churches. What a joy!
Of course, every month we also have the joy of mobilizing churches to seek renewal and equipping them to pray more effectively. We elevate biblical teaching in all that we do.
In the long run, we want to be a vital part of the two sides of church health. With your partnership, we can. The great need of our nation is for healthy, spiritually-powerful, Gospel-preaching churches. When the light shines brightly through churches across the nation, it will confront and defeat darkness. Christ will be exalted and lives will be changed. That is a vision worth our total commitment.

How's Your Outlook Working?

Imagine the current global population of almost seven billion people arranged in one massive single-file line. Picture yourself in the line. Regardless of how you rank in the American economic scale, you will be near the front of the line simply because you live in the United States.

Up the line are the people who have more than you. At the front you find people like Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, and other mega-billionaires. At the back of the line might be a 2-year-old-orphan girl from Sudan with a distended belly, taking her last breath due to extreme starvation. There are millions like her at the back of the line.

Here is the question: What is your outlook from your position in the line? Are you spending most of your energy looking up the line at those who have more than you? Are you investing energy looking down that line at those less fortunate? Is your approach working for you? How does it affect the way you live every day?

All of us have some very important options in our outlook from where we stand in the line.

LOOKING UP THE LINE?

It is customary for high-achieving Americans to spend most of our energy looking up the line. We are ambitious people. We are also bombarded by advertising and television shows that seek to convince us that the key to real happiness and significance is somewhere up the line.

If we spend most of our time looking up the line, comparing our situation with those who are more “rich and famous”, we typically reap the internal fruit of ingratitude, discontent, greed, and even idolatry.

LOOKING DOWN THE LINE?

Most of the world is down the line…VERY far down the line. Unless you have traveled to some of the poverty-stricken nations, observed the masses of broken lives, and been touched by the sights and smells of human devastation, it can be hard to even imagine life for those billions who live “down the line” from you. It is not so hard to imagine friends and family who are not so far down the line, but who need help and encouragement from us.

If we do our best to focus down the line, cultivating a greater awareness of the deep spiritual, social, and materials needs of others, we usually become more grateful, humble, compassionate, and sacrificial in how we think and live.

LOOKING BELOW THE LINE?

It is also important to look below the line in both directions. Deeper than the surface appearances of wealth or poverty we often discover the real “happiness” factor of daily life. This “below the line” happiness has much to do with an authentic walk with Christ, quality relationships, gratitude for the simple gifts of life, and a willingness to choose joy in all circumstances. Both experience and the Bible tell us that moving up the line does not guarantee greater satisfaction. In fact, we usually find just the opposite can be true.

Jesus stated that a man’s life does not consist of the things he possesses (Luke 12:15). Paul warns that a love for money is a root of all kinds of evil that can pierce our soul (1 Timothy 6:9-10). The Bible consistently honors the poor, not as an endorsement of poverty or laziness, but as recognition of the humble and gracious heart that is often exhibited by the less fortunate, even in tough circumstances.

Obviously, God blesses some people to move up the line so that they can use those blessings as stewards to advance His kingdom. Others are “driven” up the line by an ambition that eventually backfires and robs them of true well-being.

LOOKING ABOVE THE LINE?

Probably the most important look is the upward look. Above the line of humanity is a good, sovereign, and just God. He knows where we are on the line. His providence allows us to be there. He knows the beginning from the end and our times are in His hands (Psalm 31:15). He will guide us as we move up or down the line.

Keeping our eyes focused on Him in humble trust and active faith is one of the keys to a healthy outlook. In obedience to His Word we should work hard, be aware of open doors, be generous stewards, diligently serve others, and let Him guide our steps as we live on the line.

IS YOUR OUTLOOK WORKING?

As you live on the line of humanity, recognize the choices you have in your outlook. Choose the approach that works and cultivates a good and godly growth in your life. As I often say, “The hardest thing about the Christian life is that it is so daily.” Every day we must ask God for the grace to choose the best perspective, and then trust Him as we seek to live faithfully and fruitfully on the line – and for the sake of eternity.

Copyright © 2009 Daniel Henderson. All rights reserved.