The Prize Is Worth It All
The prize of a high calling in Christ Jesus is worth going through any hardship or suffering, and true happiness is found in renouncing the world and all that is in it.
David Wilkerson emphasizes that the Christian life is a race where the true prize is the knowledge of Jesus Christ, rather than worldly success or acclaim. He warns against competing with one another for prosperity, which corrupts the race and diminishes Christ's role in our lives. Wilkerson reflects on the humility and perseverance of early Christians who endured suffering for the sake of Christ, asserting that the ultimate reward is worth any sacrifice. He encourages believers to renounce worldly ambitions and focus on obtaining more of Jesus, leading to true contentment and happiness. The sermon calls for a refocusing of priorities to seek the true prize in Christ.
Text
"Let us run with patience the race that is set before us" (Hebrews 12:1, KJV). The very word race suggests competition. God's people are likened to runners in a long distance race, competing for a prize -- the prize being a glorious revelation of the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
We corrupt the race towards eternity when God's people compete with one another for success, prosperity and acclaim. Christ becomes nothing more than the sponsor, since all the runners claim to be competing in his name.
"Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ" (Philippians 3:8). There was a time when the race was not to the swift or prosperous but, rather, to the humble and weak. This race encountered persecution, privation, hardness and martyrdom. Why did these runners go through such turmoil and suffering rather than drop out? Simply because, to them, the prize was worth it all. They wanted nothing but Christ!
If faith is rewarded with anything short of the prize of a high calling in Christ Jesus, it is not worth competing for. The winner of this race is the child of God who wants to obtain nothing but more of Jesus, casting the things of this world at the feet of the cross as worthless junk.
The Christian who gives up competition for worldly objects and applause will discover what it means to be content. In all history, only those who have learned to renounce the world and all that is in it have discovered true happiness. One such person said, "I never knew what it meant to be happy until I quit striving to be great."
Ask the Lord today to refocus your attention so that you will win the worthy prize of the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Race for Eternity
- A. God's people are likened to runners in a long distance race
- B. The prize is a glorious revelation of the knowledge of Jesus Christ
- II. The Corruption of the Race
- A. Competing for success, prosperity, and acclaim
- B. Christ becomes nothing more than the sponsor
- III. The Value of the Prize
- A. Counting all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ
- B. The prize is worth it all
- IV. The Winner of the Race
- A. The child of God who wants to obtain nothing but more of Jesus
- B. Casting the things of this world at the feet of the cross as worthless junk
Key Quotes
“'Let us run with patience the race that is set before us' (Hebrews 12:1, KJV).” — David Wilkerson
“'Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ' (Philippians 3:8).” — David Wilkerson
“'I never knew what it meant to be happy until I quit striving to be great.'” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- Renounce the world and all that is in it to discover true happiness.
- Focus on obtaining more of Jesus, rather than competing for worldly objects and applause.
- Be content with what you have, and do not strive to be great.