If I could copy and paste all of Philippians 3 here, I would. I encourage you to go read the whole chapter right now. My story does not compare to Paul’s, the author of Philippians, but I do have something to share, as we all do.
I’ve spent much of my adult life feeling like a failure. During my college years, I did nothing to advance my education, skills, or character. For a long time proceeding those years, I’d felt a lot of shame and disappointment in myself about decisions I had made. Because I don’t have a college education, nor a developed trade, my earning capacity and options for an enjoyable career seemed to be dim. This reality had a huge impact on my self-esteem and self-worth.
A few years ago, God put a mentor in my life who was able to help bring some of the lies I’d started to believe about myself into the light. Once I started to reject the lies, I was able to accept the truth that I am a citizen of Heaven, and the work I get to do for Christ on earth is the most significant work that can be done.
Paul says in this chapter that his credentials are worth nothing in comparison to knowing Christ. Paul tore up the same credentials that everyone else was proudly waving around. His worth, and our worth, is not in the riches of this world but in the redemptive power of the cross.