Letters From Grandpa #481

• LETTERS FROM GRANDPA
• 481

Dearest grandchild:

Today’s letter will be about “rubbish.” Please consider these inspired words of Paul:“But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish that I may gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:7-8)

Everybody knows what rubbish is. It is something that we throw away because it has no value. Most people have a special place for things that have value. Some people even lock their valuables in a safety deposit box at the bank to keep them safe. We don’t put rubbish in a safety deposit box, however, because we don’t care if someone steals it.

The Greek word translated as “rubbish” in our text is “skubalon”. This is the only place it is used in the Bible. Some versions of the Bible translate it as “dung” and accuse Paul of being vulgar. In this passage “rubbish” refers to Paul’s credentials as a Jew. He told the Galatians “I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.” (Galatians 1:14). There was a time Paul thought these earthly credentials were valuable!

Paul was the only apostle who had credentials accepted by the Jews. The other apostles were “unschooled” and when they spoke in foreign languages on the day of Pentecost the Jews were utterly amazed and asked: “Are not all these men Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language.” (Acts 2:7-8) The Galileans spoke with a strange accent and were considered “hillbillies” by the people of Judea. Later, when Peter and John were before the Sanhedrin the Scriptures say: “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13)

There was a time when Paul felt that his diligent study and hard work would earn his salvation. “If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.” (Philippians 3:4-6)

When it dawned upon him that we are saved by faith and not by works, he came to consider his earthly credentials as “rubbish.”

PIONEERS AND RUBBISH

From 1840 – 1860 more than 300,000 pioneers in the United States crossed the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains to reach the Pacific Coast. Some sought fortunes from timber, fur and gold, and others were lured by their dreams of better health and a mild climate. The Santa Fe and Oregon Trails were the two principal routes. They were well marked but still difficult to traverse. Rivers, creeks, gorges, and mountains were sometimes impossible to cross. On a good day a wagon could cover 15 miles but often made only 2 or 3. The journey could easily take 6 – 8 months.

Not everyone made it! Many died on the way! Take, for example, the famous story of the Donner party. It consisted of 87 people and 23 ox drawn carts (29 men, 15 women, and 43 children) An early snow storm trapped them in the mountains of California and many of them starved to death. Some were even driven to cannibalism in order to survive. 42 people died during the ordeal.

As the weeks turned into months and the trail became more difficult, the pioneers began to re- evaluate what was necessary. Personal items like books, furniture, fancy clothes, and even musical instruments were abandoned by the side of the trail to lighten the wagons. An expensive pump organ is of no value to a dead man. Thus the trail became littered with “rubbish.” When faced with the harsh reality of death the weary travelers reevaluated what was essential. Satan, of course, knows this and said to God: “A man will give all he has for his own life.” (Job 2:4).

We too need to join with Paul and reevaluate what is essential! If the earthly “treasures” for which we work so hard do not help us get to heaven, perhaps we need to see them as “rubbish”, lighten the load, and leave them by the side of the road.

I love you,

Grandpa Boyce