WHEREIN DOES MY STRENGTH LIE?

… be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Psalm 27

By Mal Watlington

Like many in my generation, I was raised to be increasingly self-reliant. In fact, a key part of becoming an adult was shifting away from my parents’ support (i.e. “getting off their payroll”) and taking care of myself. After marriage, this translated into providing not just for myself, but also for my partner. And because of this, my confidence in my ability to take care of myself and others continued to grow.

When we meet Paul in Philippians 3:2-12, we meet another very confident man. He says to us “If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more.” However, he goes on to reveal his change of heart after deciding to follow Christ. He goes so far as to say “whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.”

Paul’s words are a challenge to those of us who live in a very material world. Are we ready to acknowledge that our abilities and treasures are, if anything, a barrier to a closer connection to our Lord and Savior? Can we see that our only real strength is in Him, and not in ourselves?

During the Lenten season, a time for reflection, we can and should take the time to consider where our strength lies. Are we, like Paul, willing to admit our error, step away from our pride and trust that our faith will sustain us? Can we be willing to live with loss of worldly things, since ultimately that is our fate. I can only try … so like Paul “I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.”