In the secret of your heart, how does Jesus stand up to your other loves? Does every other good, every other talent, every other relationship bow before him? Or does he often get lost in the weeds of other pleasures?

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. (Philippians 3:7–8)

For us to sing “all I have is Christ,” with full hearts, we have to believe Christ is better than all we have ever had or known besides him. “All I have” means everything else has fallen away, at least by comparison. Nothing else can stand in the light of the joy he brings. Even the very best gifts God has given us are but suggestions of all that he is for us — beautiful, merciful, enjoyable suggestions, but suggestions nonetheless.

In the secret of your heart, how does Jesus stand up to your other loves? Does every other good, every other talent, every other relationship bow before him? Or does he often get lost in the weeds of other pleasures? Would you be happy to have Christ if you could have nothing but him? Can you say with the psalm,

Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
(Psalm 73:25–26)

Surpassing Worth of Knowing Him

The apostle Paul knew what it was like to have everything here on earth — success, power, wealth, esteem. And he knew what it was like to have everything ripped away — cast out of cities, estranged from those he loved, thrown into prison, beaten and stoned almost to death — and yet gain everything. He would have loved to sing,

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life

Despite all he used to have, and all he now had lost while following Jesus, Paul could say, “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” (Philippians 3:7–8). Knowing Christ could not be measured or eclipsed. Many of the things he enjoyed before Jesus were still good, but the joy of knowing Jesus could not be measured of eclipsed (Philippians 3:8).

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