WINNERS AND LOSERS

WINNERS AND LOSERS!

Phil 3:7-8

7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.

           When Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9), his whole value system was reversed. He was highly educated, spoke several languages, and was a respected teacher. He enjoyed political influence and friendship with powerful friends. He was a tradesman. He was a firebrand for his faith albeit misguided in its application. He was probably wealthy. Jesus replaced those valuable things with things of even greater value.

           This morning several of our local politicians are weighing their coins and capital. There were winners and losers in yesterday’s election. I have friends who did well and a couple who did not gain or retain their elected positions. I can only imagine the pain and loss felt by them. They are not losers – they simply lost a political contest. I pray this one loss doesn’t redefine them.

           Winners are those who, when they encounter Christ, embrace the changes He wants to make in their lives. They welcome the new and let go of the old. They move forward. They go on without becoming bitter at the circumstance or their God who allowed it.

           Losers are those who, even in the face of yet unknown gain, can’t get past the pain of a temporary loss. Losers change the way they view themselves and distrust the image that God sees in them. They know their bitter, vindictive feelings are unfruitful but they can’t get past them. Losers keep losing until they are able to let go of the loss.

    I quote from Rudyard Kipling’s poem “IF.” If you can make one heap of all your winnings

    And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

    And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

    To serve your turn long after they are gone,   

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

    Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,   

    Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

    If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

    With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,   

Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,   

    And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings,
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings---nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And---which is more---you'll be a Man, my son!

Dear Lord, comfort those who think of themselves as losers and make humble the winners. Show us the great gain in knowing you. AMEN