Rubbish

"Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, 

for whim I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, 

that I may gain Christ." Philippians 3:8

     The word for "rubbish" is used to refer to something that no longer has use as it once had. Think about trash, that which is trash was once valuable to the user, be that it was filled with a snack, that it was holding a material that was put to good use, maybe it contained water that quenched thirst, or something else. Nonetheless, once that filled good was put to use, the remaining contents are now trash, good for nothing but to be thrown out.

This is the description Paul used in relating to what the things of life had become to him…he says, "I count then as rubbish, that I may gain Christ."

Those things that once held meaning to Paul were now seen as empty holdings, filled with nothing. He saw that all those things could not fill the voids of his heart; all those possessions only accumulated objects, but were as empty packagings to be thrown away with in comparison to gaining Christ.

Paul saw that the things of this life that had once satisfied and carried value to him were now waste to be removed that his hands could receive more of that which held inexpressible value. Paul had seen the contents of the world's packagings: identity, popularity, wealth, position, authority, comfort, affection, acceptance, on and on, but had found that all these packagings, became the same empty remains once used…the soul was still left searching and unsatisfied. Paul had seen that the packagings of the world only resulted in rubbish, but that the giftings of Christ were of lasting quantity and gain. Paul had tasted of the giftings of Christ and was left satisfied; he had come to the fountain whose waters do not cease. He had seen that nothing was left to waste in God's Kingdom, nothing was thrown out, but all things are used and work together for good. He uses our weaknesses to show forth His strength. Our faults to show forth His grace. Our abilities to bear good fruit. Our willingness to reflect Himself. There is no rubbish to be found for a life that has gained Christ. 

The world leaves one with rubbish after they have used all it contained; but gaining Christ is gaining an everlasting gift that cannot be taken away. Knowing Christ is knowing life.