Reevaluating Life's Pursuits: The Worth of Knowing Christ
Summary
Life is full of moments where we ask ourselves, “Is the outcome worth the effort?”—from the trivial, like recovering lost cash in a less-than-pleasant situation, to the profound, like the direction of our entire lives. Often, we fall into the trap of confusing the amount of effort we’ve invested with the true value of what we’re pursuing. This is known as the “sunk cost fallacy”—the tendency to keep pouring time, energy, or resources into something simply because we’ve already invested so much, even when it no longer serves us or aligns with what truly matters.
Paul, writing to the early church in Philippi, models a radically different approach. He had every reason to boast about his spiritual pedigree and achievements—his “scorecard” was unmatched. Yet, he counts all of it as loss, even using a crude word to describe its worth compared to knowing Christ. Paul’s life was once built around religious status, heritage, and personal accomplishment, but he came to see that these things, while not inherently bad, become empty when they are made ultimate. The only thing that truly matters, he insists, is knowing Jesus—not just knowing about Him, but experiencing a living relationship with Him.
This shift in perspective is what one theologian called “the expulsive power of a new affection.” When the surpassing worth of knowing Christ takes hold of our hearts, it pushes out lesser pursuits and reorders our priorities. Paul’s invitation is not to despise good things in life, but to refuse to let them become the measure of our value or the aim of our existence. Instead, he urges us to “forget what is behind” and “press on toward the goal”—to make knowing Jesus the central pursuit, even if it means letting go of what we’ve built our lives around so far.
At the end of our lives, all the scorekeeping, comparisons, and lesser races fade away. What remains is the question: “Where is Jesus?” If knowing Him is truly of surpassing worth, then everything else finds its proper place. The challenge is to ask ourselves: If I hadn’t already invested so much in this race, would I still choose it? And if knowing Jesus became my greatest affection, how might my life look different?
Key Takeaways
- The Sunk Cost Fallacy in Spiritual Life
We often continue investing in pursuits, relationships, or identities simply because we’ve already spent so much on them, not because they are truly valuable. Paul challenges us to ask: “If I hadn’t already spent so much, would I still choose this?” Recognizing and releasing these “sunk costs” frees us to pursue what truly matters, rather than being trapped by our past investments. [11:44]
- The Danger of Religious Scorekeeping
Paul’s spiritual resume was impeccable, yet he calls it all “garbage” compared to knowing Christ. When we measure ourselves or others by external achievements, religious pedigree, or social status, we create artificial barriers to grace and community. True belonging in God’s family is marked not by outward signs, but by faith in Jesus alone. [16:48]
- The Expulsive Power of a New Affection
When the love and worth of knowing Jesus truly take root in our hearts, lesser pursuits lose their grip. This isn’t about despising good things, but about letting the greatest affection—knowing Christ—reshape our desires and priorities. The more we treasure Him, the more other things find their rightful place, and the less we are driven by comparison or competition. [25:28]
- Pressing On Despite Imperfection
Paul admits he hasn’t “arrived” or fully grasped all that knowing Christ means, but he presses on, letting go of what’s behind. The Christian journey is not about perfection or expertise, but about a continual, humble pursuit of Jesus. Our past—good or bad—does not define our future when our eyes are fixed on Him. [24:40]
- The Ultimate Question at Life’s End
In moments of crisis or at the end of life, all our striving and scorekeeping fade, and the deepest longing becomes clear: “Where is Jesus?” The surpassing worth of knowing Him is what endures when everything else falls away. Orienting our lives around this question now brings clarity, peace, and purpose that outlasts every lesser race. [30:31]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:48] - Is the Outcome Worth the Effort?
[04:10] - The Sunk Cost Fallacy Explained
[07:30] - Religious Scorecards and Barriers
[13:17] - The Covenant Sign and Its Misuse
[14:23] - Making Jesus the Only Barrier
[16:48] - Paul’s Spiritual Resume and Its Loss
[18:11] - The Crudeness of “Garbage” (Skubalon)
[19:12] - How We Keep Score
[21:34] - The Problem with Making Good Things Ultimate
[22:42] - Knowing Christ: Resurrection and Suffering
[23:41] - Taking Hold of What Took Hold of Us
[24:40] - Forgetting What’s Behind, Pressing On
[25:28] - The Expulsive Power of a New Affection
[26:54] - Are You Running a Lesser Race?
[29:35] - The Surpassing Worth of Knowing Jesus
[30:31] - What Remains at the End
[31:46] - How Might My Life Look Different?
[32:40] - Prayer and Response
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide
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### Bible Reading
Philippians 3:2-14 (ESV)
> 2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
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### Observation Questions
1. What are some of the things Paul lists as his “spiritual resume” or reasons he could be confident in himself? (Philippians 3:4-6)
2. According to Paul, what is the only thing that truly matters compared to everything else he’s accomplished? (Philippians 3:7-8)
3. How does Paul describe his attitude toward his past achievements and identity? What word does he use, and why is it significant? [[18:11]]
4. What does Paul say about his own spiritual journey—does he claim to have “arrived” or figured it all out? (Philippians 3:12-13) [[24:40]]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Paul is so strong in calling his past achievements “garbage” or “rubbish” compared to knowing Christ? What is he trying to communicate to the Philippians? [[18:11]]
2. The sermon talked about the “sunk cost fallacy”—continuing to invest in something just because you’ve already spent so much on it. How does Paul’s story challenge this way of thinking in our spiritual lives? [[16:48]]
3. What does it mean to “press on toward the goal” and “forget what is behind” in the context of following Jesus? How might this look different from just trying to be perfect? [[24:40]]
4. The sermon mentioned “the expulsive power of a new affection.” How does a deeper love for Jesus change the way we see other pursuits or achievements? [[25:28]]
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### Application Questions
1. Can you think of an area in your life where you’re still investing time, energy, or resources mainly because you’ve already spent so much on it—not because it’s truly valuable? What would it look like to ask, “If I hadn’t already spent so much, would I still choose this?” [[26:54]]
2. Are there “scorecards” you use to measure your worth or compare yourself to others—like career, family, religious activity, or social status? How do these affect your sense of belonging or value? [[19:12]]
3. Paul says knowing Jesus is of “surpassing worth.” If knowing Jesus became your greatest affection, how might your priorities, schedule, or relationships look different? [[31:46]]
4. The sermon talked about letting go of “good things” that have become “ultimate things.” Is there something good in your life that has taken too central a place? What would it look like to put it in its proper place? [[21:34]]
5. Paul admits he hasn’t “arrived” but keeps pressing on. How does this encourage you (or challenge you) in your own spiritual journey, especially if you feel stuck or imperfect? [[24:40]]
6. At the end of life, the sermon says the main question is, “Where is Jesus?” How does this perspective help you evaluate what you’re chasing right now? [[30:31]]
7. The sermon described the “expulsive power of a new affection.” Have you ever experienced a time when a new love or passion made old habits or pursuits lose their grip? How might you invite Jesus to do that in your life now? [[25:28]]
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Close in prayer, asking God to help you see the true worth of knowing Jesus and to give you courage to let go of lesser pursuits.
Devotional
Day 1: The Surpassing Worth of Knowing Christ
All the achievements, status, and efforts we accumulate in life can easily become the things we value most, but Paul reminds us that compared to knowing Jesus, everything else is “garbage”—even the best parts of our story. The true prize is not in what we can accomplish or how we measure up, but in the deep, personal relationship with Christ that outshines every other pursuit. When we let go of our need to keep score and instead focus on knowing Jesus, we find a new center for our lives, one that brings lasting worth and meaning. [18:11]
Philippians 3:7-8 (ESV)
"But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you’ve been keeping score or seeking validation, and how might you begin to let go of that in order to pursue knowing Jesus more deeply?
Day 2: Letting Go of Sunk Costs
It’s easy to keep investing time, energy, or even our hearts into things simply because we’ve already spent so much on them, but Paul challenges us to ask: “If I hadn’t already spent so much, would I still choose this?” Sometimes, the bravest thing we can do is to release what no longer serves God’s purpose for us, even if it means letting go of long-held dreams, relationships, or identities. Freedom comes when we stop letting past investments dictate our present direction and instead press on toward what God is calling us to now. [24:40]
Philippians 3:13-14 (ESV)
"Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
Reflection: Is there something in your life you’re holding onto only because of what you’ve already invested? What would it look like to release it and trust God with your next step?
Day 3: The Expulsive Power of a New Affection
When we truly encounter Jesus, His love and presence become so compelling that the things we once chased after lose their grip on us. This “expulsive power of a new affection” means that as our desire for Christ grows, lesser pursuits naturally fade into the background—not because they’re all bad, but because something better has captured our hearts. The more we fix our eyes on Jesus, the more our priorities, ambitions, and even our struggles are transformed by His surpassing worth. [25:28]
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
Reflection: What is one “lesser race” you find yourself running, and how might a deeper affection for Jesus begin to change your focus or priorities today?
Day 4: No Artificial Barriers to Jesus
Paul insists that the only true marker of belonging to God is faith in Jesus, not external rituals or religious scorecards. We are called to remove any artificial barriers that might keep people from encountering Christ, making sure that the only stumbling block is Jesus Himself—not our traditions, preferences, or expectations. This radical openness invites everyone, no matter their background or story, to discover the life-changing reality of knowing Jesus. [14:23]
Galatians 3:28 (ESV)
"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
Reflection: Are there ways—subtle or obvious—that you might be making it harder for others (or even yourself) to come to Jesus? What could you do to remove those barriers?
Day 5: What Truly Matters at the End
At the end of our lives, all the things we chased, built, or worried about will fade, and the one question that remains is: “Where is Jesus?” The surpassing worth of knowing Christ is not just a theological idea but the deepest longing of every heart, especially in our most vulnerable moments. If knowing Jesus truly became what mattered most to us now, it would reshape what we care about, how we spend our time, and the way we see others—bringing clarity, peace, and purpose that endures beyond every other race we run. [30:31]
John 17:3 (ESV)
"And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."
Reflection: If knowing Jesus was truly the most important thing in your life, what is one practical change you would make this week to reflect that priority?
Quotes
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