"If anyone else thinks he has reason for 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; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 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 and be found in him. . ."
So, recently I have had a few people really close to my heart express disappointment in my choice of major. As a result, I got incredibly stressed about what I am doing with my life--apparently a typical crisis for a college sophomore. I even had one person say that they wished I was off at MIT studying nuclear physics or something like that. Let's face it, I could never get into MIT nor make it as a physicist, however, the point was made. I threw away a promising career for a ministry that promises a never-ending financial struggle. Foolishness, they say.
A long time ago, I heard someone say they wanted to live in such a way that could not be explained without the gospel. I prayed that God would help me live that kind of life, and that is what I pursued in coming to Biola. But I have struggled so much with losing the approbation of these people, so much so, that I almost willing gave up my dreams for theirs. Then, I stumbled across these verses in Philippians and realized that Paul gave up a promising career to serve Christ. Surely my potential was not nearly as great as Paul's, but he counted it all rubbish in order to serve Christ. He left high standing in his community for a life of persecution and imprisonment.
Foolishness, you say? I say the gospel. I say there is surpassing worth in knowing Christ. I choose to follow God in ways that are inexplicable without the gospel. I will not give up his calling on me for a life of comfort.
God give me strength to follow you.
