Excellent “Compuper” Skills
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Recently, I had to review several résumés for a position we’re filling in our office. As I went through them, I was struck by how many mistakes I found — typos, missing information, inconsistent formatting. It reminded me of that scene from Friends, where one of the characters sent out dozens of résumés proudly advertising their excellent “compuper” skills.
It got me thinking about Philippians 3, where Paul talks about what really matters on a Christian’s résumé.
First, Paul reminds us that our best credentials don’t qualify us. In verses 4–7, he lists his impressive spiritual and cultural “résumé” — circumcised, of Israel, a Pharisee, blameless under the law. But then he says he counts it all as loss compared to knowing Christ. No matter how impressive our spiritual record or good works might seem, they don’t earn us favor with God.
Second, believers trade their résumé for Christ’s righteousness. Verse 9 says Paul wants to be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own… but that which comes through faith in Christ. Our sins and shortcomings make our own record hopelessly flawed — but through faith, Jesus gives us His perfect record in exchange for ours.
Finally, even though Paul knows his righteousness comes from Christ, he keeps striving to grow and fulfill God’s calling. In verses 12–14, he presses on, “forgetting what lies behind” and reaching forward to what lies ahead, pursuing the prize of God’s upward call. His résumé isn’t about proving himself anymore — it’s about pursuing Jesus and living faithfully.
So, as you think about your own “spiritual résumé,” remember this: don’t rely on your excellent “compuper” skills, but rather on the righteousness of Christ as you press on and strive to be Christlike in your walk toward sanctification.
By Paky Kramer