February 2
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TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS GAIN
21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. 23 But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; 24 yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sakes. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that your pride in Christ Jesus may be abundant because of me by my coming to you again. – Philippians 1:21-26
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In his declaration of Paul’s great love for his Lord and Master, we hear him proclaim that “to live is Christ and to die is gain.” What does he mean by this? Do you remember how Paul’s encounter on the Damascus road, changed his entire life from a dead life of persecuting the Christians to a new life for Christ?
Barclay comments that for Paul, Christ had been the beginning of life, for on that day at Damascus road it was as if he had begun life all over again. To Paul, Christ had given the task of life, for it was he who had made him an apostle and sent him out as the evangelist of the Gentiles. To him Christ had given the strength for life, for it was Christ’s all-sufficient grace that was made perfect in Paul’s weakness. For him Christ was the reward of life, for to Paul the only worthwhile reward was closer fellowship with his Lord. If Christ were to be taken out of life, for Paul there would be nothing left.
“Death is gain” because it meant that he will be united with his Lord and Savior. Barclay comments again that there are passages in which Paul seems to regard death as a sleep, from which all men at some future general resurrection shall be wakened (1Corinthians 16:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:14; 1 Thessalonians 4:16); but at the moment when its breath was on him Paul thought of death not as a falling asleep but as an immediate entry into the presence of his Lord.
In verse 23, he mentions two desires regarding to die so he can be with Christ or to remain alive so he can still continue to do the work for Christ to the other believers. How many of us Christians have this undying servant heart like Paul? His whole life is about serving and proclaiming the gospel so that Christ may be glorified. Is our life for Christ and are we ready to give up our life to preach the gospel and make disciples of others?
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REFLECTION
• Does your life manifest a life for Christ and do you think to die is gain?