In Philippians Chapter 3, Paul speaks of worldly assets being Heavenly liabilities. He starts out by referencing his past resume:
:4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. NKJV
In that day, he was among the well-educated class of people and he had achieved great stature in his particular vocation. He was the epitome of success in that day, and at a young age. After his encounter with Christ, his priorities totally changed:
:7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. NASB
After Paul’s encounter with Christ, all of his past titles, education, and stature among the world were of no value to him… they were as a loss. He realized that his loyalty to the worldly state of Israel was of no value. It was time to change his citizenship status. Those precious assets of the past were simply liabilities to him now.
Here in the U.S., many of us have examples of what we thought were assets, were truly liabilities. Liabilities are a drain to the balance sheet. They reflect debt and obligations that require some type of payment in the future. Boat owners understand the concept of assets becoming liabilities all too well. You buy the boat thinking that you are going to enjoy it every weekend in the spring, summer and fall. At first, it is heavily used. As each year passes, you use the boat less but spend money to store it and keep it in working order. As time passes, your priorities change and the boat becomes a liability. You finally reconcile the fact that it would be cheaper to rent a boat for the weekend than to own a boat year round. The second happiest day of owning a boat is the day you sell it. This is true with other “stuff” as well.
As we are led to change our citizenship from the world’s system to Heaven, we no longer need the trappings of the world. The things of the world are counted as “loss”:
3:8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,
This reality occurs in those who have truly seen a change in their life. Their priorities are now focused toward the higher things in Heaven, thus their allegiance is toward the Kingdom of Our Heavenly Father. When this change occurs we no longer rely on the “letter” of the Law, but instead on the “Spirit” of the Law. Love, faith, and hope overtake us as our citizenship is transferred:
9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
We now realize there is a cost of transferring our citizenship: fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death. Our false self wants to retain those liabilities by convincing us they are assets. The worldly assets are in constant decay. They have no future and they provide temporary satisfaction at best. Paul further states that those who are mature understand the goal: the upward call of GOD in Christ Jesus:
12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Let us press toward that goal and as a consequence, our citizenship will be transferred. Our hearts will lead us into the change. Love will draw us out of the world and its trappings and into the everlasting Kingdom. We will shed any weight that would hinder our focus. We will align ourselves with others who also have made the decision to transfer the citizenship upward. When you move to a new residence in a distant land, you sell off the unwanted assets and remove all liabilities of the past. You start fresh. Your assets now equal your equity and you you are now free to minister Love and life without hindrance.
15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule,fn let us be of the same mind.
Our Citizenship in Heaven:
17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.