Choosing Grace Over Gain

Choosing Grace Over Gain
Scripture Readings:
Psalm 27 – Confidence in God’s presence.
Genesis 13:1-7, 14-18 – Abram and Lot separate due to their great wealth.
Philippians 3:2-12 – Paul counts worldly achievements as loss for the sake of Christ.
We live in a world that measures success by wealth, status, and accomplishments. But today’s Scriptures remind us that earthly gain is nothing compared to the surpassing worth of knowing God.
 
In Genesis 13, Abram and Lot face a problem—not scarcity, but abundance. Their flocks and herds are so numerous that the land cannot support them both, leading to conflict. Material wealth, instead of uniting them, drives them apart. Abram, however, chooses peace over possession. Rather than clinging to his rights, he offers Lot the first choice of land, trusting that God’s promises are greater than personal gain.
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Similarly, Philippians 3 presents Paul, a man with an impressive résumé—born into the right family, trained under the best teachers, and zealous for the law. But instead of clinging to these achievements, Paul declares, “Whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ” (v. 7). He recognizes that nothing—not wealth, status, or religious credentials—compares to the grace of God.

This echoes the heart of the Reformation. Martin Luther, whose teachings transformed Christianity, once said: "The law says, ‘Do this,’ and it is never done. Grace says, ‘Believe in this,’ and everything is already done.”

Luther’s words capture the essence of salvation by grace alone. The law demands effort, striving, and personal merit, yet no matter how hard we work, it is never enough. Human effort cannot secure righteousness; something always remains undone, a standard we fail to meet. However, grace operates differently. It does not ask us to strive but to trust. It does not demand perfection but invites faith. In Christ, salvation is not an achievement but a gift, already completed through His death and resurrection.

Paul realized this when he relinquished his worldly credentials. His religious zeal, his heritage, his works—none of them could compare to the gift of Christ’s righteousness. Like Abram, who chose faith in God’s promise over securing land for himself, we are called to let go of earthly gain and trust in the sufficiency of grace.

Living in the freedom of grace allows us to:
Examine our priorities – Are you valuing temporary success over eternal treasure?
Let go of rivalries – Are you willing to choose peace over proving yourself?
Rest in grace – Remember, your worth is not in what you achieve but in the love of Christ.

Prayer:
Gracious God, I confess that I sometimes value earthly success too highly. Help me to count all things I can gain in this worldly life as scrap compared to the joy of knowing You. Teach me to let go of what does not last and to trust in Your grace, which is freely given and never earned. Lead me to walk in faith, knowing that You are my true inheritance. Amen.

Reflection Question: What is one thing you need to surrender so that you can fully embrace the grace of God?