These histories are of vital interest. To none are they of deeper importance than to the youth. Moses renounced a prospective kingdom, Paul the advantages of wealth and honor among his people, for a life of burden bearing in God's service. To many the life of these men appears one of renunciation and sacrifice. Was it really so? Moses counted the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt. He counted it so because it was so. Paul declared: "What things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ. Yea verily, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but refuse, that I may gain Christ." Philippians 3:7, 8, R.V., margin. He was satisfied with his choice.

Disse beretninger er af livsvigtig betydning. For ingen er de mere betydningsfulde end for de unge. Moses gav afkald på at blive konge, Paulus gav afkald på rigdom og ære blandt sit folk for at leve et byrdefuldt liv i Guds tjeneste. For mange synes disse mænds liv at være levet i selvfornægtelse og selvopofrelse. Var det mon virkelig sådan? Moses regnede kristi skændsel for en større rigdom end alle Ægyptens skatte. Han anså den for at være dette, fordi den var det. Paulus erklærede:»Men det, der engang var mig fordele, det har jeg for Kristi skyld lært at regne for tab. Ja, jeg regner i sandhed alt for tab i sammenligning med det langt højere at kende Kristus Jesus, min Herre. For hans skyld har jeg lidt tab på alt og regner det for skarn, for at jeg kan få Kristus i eje.« Fil. 3,7-8. Han var tilfreds med sit valg.