Christ's confidence

What do you have confidence in?

As Americans, this passage in Philippians can be challenging to fully embrace. Think about what Paul says Philippians 3:4-6.

For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reasons for such confidence.

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.

Paul talks about the confidence he has “in the flesh.” His bloodline. His nationality. His position. According to all of these things, Paul has the “right” to place a lot of confidence in himself.

This sounds a lot like the American attitude of self-reliance and individualism. We place a lot of pride in our intelligence, our athletic ability, our ability to perform, and a variety of other talents and gifts. While there is nothing wrong with enjoying and embracing the talents God has given us, but we have to be careful not to make them the place where we find our confidence.

After all the things that Paul listed that he could have confidence in, he comes back to this…

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Paul’s confidence is not in those other things that he had trusted in for much of his earlier life. Rather, he considers them garbage. The word that the NIV translates “garbage” is actually the Greek word Skuvbalon (skuvbalon), a word more accurately translated “dung.” What Paul is really saying is that all those things that Paul used to put his confidence in have been (to use a milder, modern metaphor) flushed down the toilet.

As Paul challenges us to consider where we place our confidence, he tells us that the things of the flesh are the same as what we leave in our toilet. I know it’s a pretty gross visual, but I think it really tells us how strongly Paul feels about where we place our confidence.

 

shine!
Jason