When we all face difficult times, challenging times, just like these economic times that we're facing now,

individuals, families, and institutions begin to take stock on what are their assets and what are their liabilities. We all begin to reorder our priorities.

So tough times are not always bad because they help us all to begin to focus on what is productive

in our lives and what is not. What is important in

life and what is not. And by all, I mean all, except the government, of course. But taking time

to evaluate one's priority is of vital importance. Taking time to examine what are the real

assets in life and what are the real liabilities is very important. And in chapter three of the

epistle to the Philippians, that's exactly what the Apostle Paul does with his spiritual life.

I want you to turn with me, please.

Philippians, chapter three, beginning at verse one, because the Apostle Paul, though he's in prison, he was facing things that worsen prison. His biggest challenge were those

people who are the enemies of the cross and they're out to destroy him in order to destroy the

gospel message that he's preaching. They're the ones who are running around saying, yes, you can save

by Jesus plus circumcision. Whenever the word plus comes in, it is a false gospel. It only saved

through Jesus Christ. And he was facing these tough times, dealing with these people.

He was facing hard time refuting those who were seeking

to destroy the message of the cross and the message of grace and the message of faith.

So he took time to assess his spiritual assets and his liabilities. He took time to reiterate what is really important

and what is not. He took time to identify what is of value and what is sheer useless

baggages in life. And we all have those. I know I do.

Useless baggagees that constantly need to be purged. He took time to focus on what truly

brings him joy and what only can bring him pride and boasting.

And by that way, he leaves us a great role model to emulate.

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