What to Dump

It had been a long time since we watched poker on television. But a short road trip this week allowed us to catch a bit of the World Poker Tour "Ladies' Night" tournament on cable.

Vanessa Rousso was the biggest name at the all-female table, and she had the biggest chip stack throughout the time we watched. (We'll let you go elsewhere online, to look up whether she won.)  But what struck us was how many times players gave up what seemed to be very playable pre-flop hands.  A couple of players folded A-10, even when the raises ahead of them were relatively small.

Every poker player has boundaries, we suppose -- hands they wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole unless they sit in the Big Blind and all they have to do is check.  And as we walk through life, there are some things we should throw away....

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. - Philippians 3:7

This was written by the apostle Paul, who had a lot going for him as a young man.  Verses 4-6 show he had a great religious pedigree -- at least in the established religion of his day.  But when Paul encountered Jesus Christ, his entire perspective changed.

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 3:8

Some players get a reputation for playing only "quality hands."  Beyond pocket Aces, the definition of that phrase can be subjective.  In a similar way, Paul tossed aside a lot, for the knowledge of Jesus.  What makes that so much better?

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. - Philippians 3:10-11

Paul wanted to be resurrected to "a new life," as he calls it in Romans 6:4 -- an eternal life with Jesus.  Are you willing to throw away things which are "rags" by comparison, to have that new life?

And while we're at it -- what's the biggest hand you ever threw away at a poker table?  And did you wind up making the right decision when you did it?