Counting Everything but Loss
One of my favorite hymns is “There’s a Royal Banner.” It is a wonderful song, meant to instill in Christians a reminder that Christ has already won the victory, so we must go out and do our work to win others, and to do so at all cost.
In the chorus of the song, though, some sing the wrong lyrics. Recently, I have sung the song a few times, and noticed that–with the lyrics to one line correct or incorrect–there is a powerful message.
Incorrect Lyric, but a Powerful Truth
Some sing, “For Christ counts everything but loss.”
Now, we’ll get to what the actual words are in a moment, but isn’t that “mis-singing” still true? My Lord did count all things but loss, and did so for my sake!
“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). Of course, “the Word was God” (1:1). That God became flesh is powerful enough to show us His love.
Beyond that, though, Jesus gave up so much when He came to this earth. In a passage that I simply cannot read to often, Paul reminded Christians to be humble, and to do so, used Jesus as the ultimate and perfect example:
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5-8)
Jesus gave up equality with God in order to not just come to earth, but to become a servant! It is right to say that our Lord counted everything but loss. If that doesn’t make you love Him even more, I’m not sure what would!
Correct Lyrics, and a Powerful Reminder
What the chorus of the song actually says is, “For Christ count everything but loss.”
In other words, when we give ourselves to the Lord, we need to count everything else as secondary. Following the Lord becomes our focus.
Interestingly, we find the same teaching in the same letter from Paul, the book of Philippians. In chapter 3, he wrote about his heritage as a Jew and how he stood out in that religion. After listing all those past accomplishments, he penned these powerful words:
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ. (3:7-8)
Everything else–our accomplishments and accolades–pale in comparison to what we have in Jesus. We should count them as loss for His sake.
Conclusion
It is an humbling thought that Jesus counted all things but loss, and that He did so for my sake. He gave up heaven in order to save my soul.
If that is true, can I not count all things for loss for His sake? I am giving up so little in comparison to what He gave up for me.
Over land and sea, wherever man may dwell,
Make the glorious tidings known;
Of the crimson banner now the story tell,
While the Lord shall claim His own.
Marching on and on! Marching on and on!
For Christ count everything but loss,
And to crown Him King, we’ll toil and sing
Beneath the banner of the cross.
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AUTHOR: Adam Faughn
