Put a dollar bill in my right hand and a hundred dollar bill in my left and tell me to choose one . . . I’ll take what’s in my left hand. Or tell me there’s an ’88 Toyota Tercel behind the first door and a Porsche behind the second and ask me to pick one . . . “I’ll take what’s behind door number two, Monty!” Kind of no brainers . . . picking something of greater value over something that’s of very little value . . . but only if you know the value of the objects in play. If you’re new to the paper money thing and you reason that $1 must be of more value than $100 because 1 is higher ranking than 100 . . . or, if you think a car with 5 doors (including the hatchback) must have taken more to make than a car with two doors . . . you might just choose the lesser over the greater.

So, what’s got me trying to come up with this sorta’ lame line of reasoning? I’m noodling on something Paul writes to the Philippians about relative value . . . and choosing the greater over the lesser . . .

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 . . . ” (Philippians 3:7-8  ESV)

It’s that phrase, “the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord”, that’s my “hover point” this morning.

Behind Door #1 Paul had a rich pedigree and a prestigious future. His lineage distinguished him as a “Hebrew of the Hebrews” . . . his smarts concerning the law and his ambition concerning his religion made him a “shoo-in” for the highest rankings of the elite in Israeli society . . . and his drive in pursuit of that which he considered righteousness was unmatched. “Success” was his to lay hold of . . . for a good portion of his life he had pursued Door #1 and it was paying off.

But then . . . then Paul got a glimpse of what was behind “Door #2”. Well . . . a bit more than a glimpse. He met the risen Savior on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3-5) . . . he received some personal tutoring at “Paradise U” (2Cor. 12:2-4) . . . he started to experience “knowing Christ.” Behind Door #2 was communion with the living Lord of Creation. The prize consisted not in physical or material returns but in the wonder, awe, and intimacy of being brought into close relationship with the One who formed Him . . . and knew Him . . . and intensely desired to “come in and sup with him”. Door #2 was less about the things of this world and all about things of the next . . . not so much about the treasures stored up here but coming into an inheritance as a co-heir with the precious Son of God . . . not so much about the sacrifices he might be called to make, but all about a continual abiding appreciation for the sacrifice made on his behalf by the spotless Lamb of God. So this . . . and so much more . . . were to Paul of a “surpassing worth.”

Doesn’t it come down to a value system . . . to looking at two “doors” and deciding the relative value of one over the other . .. and then choosing to pursue one, even if it costs the other? Paul counted everything behind Door #1 as loss . . . and he lost it all . . . the title, the esteem, the prestige, the “future”. But in Paul’s estimation it didn’t even compete with the surpassing worth of “gaining Christ”. He would readily let go of the things of this world in order to grow in the grace of knowledge of His Savior. He would release all claims to the “Tercel hatchback” of this age in order to enter into fully the fellowship available to him with the risen King of kings and Lord of lords.

Oh, the surpassing worth of know Christ Jesus my Lord . . .

I’ll take what’s behind Door #2, as well, Monty . . .