Philippians 3:7-11 (NKJV), 7 "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness,…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.”

In Philippians 3:4-6, the apostle Paul lists some of his human achievements – things that gave him status. Philippians 3:4-6 (ESV), 4 “If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.” Before Paul was converted, he was a prominent leader among the Jewish people. 

However, none of these fleshly things are important to the Christian. In fact, if a Christian were to value earthly status, he would develop pride. Paul recognized his flesh to be the enemy of his new creature. 

Remember Romans 7:18, 22-23 (ESV), 18 “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. … 22 For I delight in the law of God (God’s law of love, not the Law Covenant), in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.”

Thus, Paul considers his fleshly worth to be rubbish and an opposing force against his new creature. As a Christian, Paul’s new focus was obeying God’s will. He preached the Gospel and suffered for doing so. 2 Corinthians 11:24-27 (NASB20), “Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, … dangers from robbers, …dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, … in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.” 

Paul focused his whole being on being obedient so that he might receive a heavenly resurrection. Philippians 3:13 (NASB20), “…(this) one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies] ahead”. So must all Christians develop this desire.