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Bible teaching ministry of Stephen
& Brooksyne Weber
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. Home About Us Free email subscription ![]() Follow Daily Encouragement on ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() <Previous Message Next Message> Wednesday, March 2, 2016
"Our Rubbish Problem"
Message Summary: Have we considered everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus? Do we consider them rubbish, that we may gain Christ? ![]() "Whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ" (Philippians 3:7,8). All I once held dear, built my life upon,
All this world reveres, and wars to own, All I once thought gain I have counted loss; Spent and worthless now, compared to this. ![]() Unless there is a problem most of us give little thought to trash, unless it's our job to empty the trash containers or to carry it out to the road on trash day. Our trash truck comes by once a week. I can normally consolidate our household rubbish to 2 or 3 kitchen-sized trash bags since we also recycle. Trash and recycle day is a cooperative job at our place for Ester and me. Brooksyne gets a break on this one. Ester goes throughout the house collecting all the individual trash baskets and I place the waste from these into the kitchen trash. I seal up the liner and place it along the road for pick up. For me there is a sense of fulfillment in this weekly chore, although by evening we start accumulating trash again! I don't give a lot of thought to what happens after the truck picks it up but do try to express thanks to the hardworking men who do the hard and often nasty work. As human population grows we have some notorious problems. We are all aware of water shortages and some even predict water wars. But another issue is trash. Humans generate a lot of trash! Trash, garbage, rubbish. These are not pleasant sounding words but if not properly dealt with we have a growing mess. Perhaps you recall whenever there's a strike in cities how unbeautifying the landscape grows as the trash piles up. They are presently having a huge trash problem in Beirut, Lebanon (see link below for a photo collection of rivers of garbage). ![]() In college I worked for a time on the campus trash crew and found fulfillment in doing my part to keep the campus clean. We had a real trash truck, probably an older model donated to the school. ![]() This was written by the apostle Paul. In the context he gives his spiritual background and essentially asserts that if anyone can earn righteousness with God through pedigree and works he's the man. But in his spiritual conversion to Christ he recognizes a dynamic truth: "What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ" (Philippians 3:8). Notice the phrase "I consider them rubbish". The KJV uses the word "dung". The Greek word is "skubala" which is an hapax legomenon, meaning a word used only once in the entire New Testament. Please pardon the candor in this definition from a Greek reference but the word skubala "is literally any refuse such as the excrement of animals, off scourings, rubbish, dregs and so figuratively speaks of things that are worthless and detestable. It includes material thrown to the dogs." * Paul is actually using the strongest and most descriptive word at his disposal to indicate his estimation of his past life. I can think of other words that he might have used if he were writing today in English. ![]() Today there may be so much on our minds, somewhat depending on where we live, but also issues common to all of us. Here in America we are in the midst of a nasty election season. Worldwide we have terrorism. These and so many other issues can consume our minds. But let's examine our hearts and place our focus on what matters most. Have we considered everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus? Do we consider them rubbish, that we may gain Christ? I sure admit that for me this is an ongoing battle but I do well to regularly consider the challenge and aspire to the Apostle Paul's outlook.
Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You,
There is no greater thing. You're my all, You're the best, You're my joy, my righteousness, and I love you, Lord. Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber ![]() Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "All I Once Held Dear" Video Graham Kendrick "All I Once Held Dear" Video Matthew Ward (Takes us back to the early eighties when the musical group "2nd Chapter of Acts" was popular. Matthew sang along with his two sisters) "Mansion Builder" Video 2nd Chapter of Acts (one of our favorite songs by this group. Note the very tight harmony!) Beirut's river of garbage in photos Study notes for Philippians 3:8 To receive the "Daily Encouragement" each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe to our email list. You can also subscribe to the Wordpress rss feed or through a Wordpress email subscription. (See the email subscription on the right side after opening this page.) ![]() ![]() Permissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. I do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact. Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version. Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity." © Copyright 2016 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA |