Profit and Loss

Pastor John Rigg

Read Philippians 3:7-11

As I read through Paul’s words in Philippians,  I was taken back to my days as a business owner - where Profit and Loss statements were a necessary part of business life.

A Profit and Loss (P&L) statement—also known as an income statement—is a financial report that summarizes a company’s revenues, costs, and expenses over a specific period, such as a month, quarter, or year. It reveals whether a business is operating at a profit or a loss.

In verse 7, it is like Paul is reading from his personal Profit and Loss statement, in regards to his pursuit of being in right standing with God.

In the previous verses, Paul gives an account of everything that should have made him right with God. 

He is a Jew by birth.

He is a member of God’s Chosen people - Israel

He is from the Tribe of Benjamin - he is from the line of Jews that have remained faithful to God

He is a Hebrew of the Hebrews - he still spoke their language and kept all the Hebrew customs

He is a Pharisee - he was committed to upholding the Law of Moses

He was zealous for the Law - so much so that he persecuted Christianity as he saw it as a threat to Judaism 

But instead of placing these things in the Profit column - he places them in the Loss column.

Why?

Because if he would have continued to trust in these things to make himself right with God, it would never have happened.

Paul now knows that the only thing that could be listed in the Profit column - is Jesus.

In fact, he counted all things he was doing to become right with God, rubbish, because they were actually in the way of him gaining Christ!

He suffered the loss of all these things when he became a follower of Christ.

This is a great reminder for everyone today.

Each of us has a Profit and Loss statement when it comes to being right with God.

Paul was fooling himself thinking the things he was doing would.

We need to evaluate our Profit and Loss statement and ask the question; ““Is there anything “I am doing” thinking that these things will make me right with God?””

Just like Paul, the only thing that should be in our Profit column is the name of Jesus.

The reason all other things must be in the loss column is because we have no ability to produce righteousness ourselves.

Living in a Christian home, going to church or being a good person will never produce the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:21 - For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Only faith in the sacrifice of Jesus can produce righteousness. 

All other things we must count as loss.

God, we thank you for desiring a relationship with us. Thank you Jesus, for willingly suffering on a cross to pay for our sin and offering salvation and eternal life through faith in You. Amen