Resumés

“If anyone thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh…consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ…and be[ing] found in Him” (Philippians 3:4,8,9).

Resumés aim to secure our acceptance and security. They document our worth to ourselves – we want to be seen as important and valuable – and to others since they gain admission to a college, secure a job, even grant acceptance into a circle of friends or certain level of status. Our resumés may not be as impressive as Paul’s faultless one documenting his heritage, education, religious activity, and uber-obedience to the Law (v.6), but they undoubtedly include much to “put [fleshly] confidence [in]” (v.4). They have gained us admission, acceptance, even happiness, but Paul shows us our achievements (“profit” v.7) can become a liability. We derive identity and self-worth from our job, social status, possessions, money, and success.  But as Paul’s own “Hebrew of the Hebrews” (v.5) life demonstrates, that achievement can lead to a works-based, a me-based righteousness. Of course we want to be seen as valuable, but the danger lies in letting our resumés take away our dependence on God:  I can manage on my own. Truth is, even with all we have done, we are helpless to save ourselves (vv.3,8b).

While some markers of our identity never change, most do: jobs change, retirement comes, children go astray, the stock market drops. We strive for something, gain it, and then the ground for acceptability shifts. Early in my last college job, I wanted the recognition full-time faculty received from wearing clearly identifiable lanyards. It wasn’t long before I received one, too. Next month? Full-time faculty sported beautiful, engraved name tags; I never got one. Such shifting of ground never happens in Christ because my truer identity and lasting acceptance in Him should drive away the need for outward acclaim. I’m always accepted by the One who matters.  

As Christians, we shouldn’t need to define ourselves by anything but being in Him. Others can and will criticize our job performance, parenting skills, or how we spend money. That’s hurtful because it attacks the basis of our acceptability, our self-worth. Focus on this: a “surpassing” (v. 8) resumé comes from trading our record for Christ’s, our works righteousness for His (v.9). “To be found in Him” (v.9) is so much more satisfying than what we keep trying to find from other sources, what we keep struggling to do in our own power. 

What are you building your life on? Lay all your “doing” at Jesus’ feet. Be found in Him, and let His resumé be yours.

Leave a Comment

Comments for this post have been disabled.