For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

We have all heard someone say, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain”, but what is Paul teaching when he wrote this to the Philippian Church? Paul spoke in generous terms of the Philippian Christians.  They were people whom he loved and longed for, his joy and his crown (4:1).  He wanted this love to overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight, so that in the day of the Lord they might be pure and blameless (1:9-10).

So what does it mean to live is Christ? To live is to magnify and glorify Christ. To live is to show that Christ is magnificent and Paul tells us how to do just that. In the very next verse he says, “If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me” (Philippians 1:22). So what does that mean? What is fruitful labor that magnifies Christ in such a way that you can say that to pursue this fruit is to pursue the glory of Christ? He explains, “To remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith” (Philippians 1:24–25). So his fruitful labor, that he’s living for, is labor to increase the joy of the faith of the Philippians. If they have greater joy by maturing in their faith, Jesus is magnified and glorified.

So you need to ask yourself the question, “what does to live is Christ look like in my life?”  Does your life bring glory to Jesus, and does it magnify Him? Paul reminds us to make ourselves a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1). To live for Christ is to deny yourself, take up your cross daily and follow him (Luke 9:23). Just as Paul spent 30 years of his life serving Jesus and others, we too should be serving Him and others in order to bring God the glory He deserves.

For a Christian to die is our gain, because we will see our Savior face to face and we will worship Him forever in the company of all the redeemed. In the movie, “The Outlaw Josey Wales”, Josey makes the flowing statement, “Dying ain’t hard for men like you and me. It’s living that’s hard.” For Christians there is no need to fear death. We can say with all confidence, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?(1Corinthians 15:54-55)” What say you? Can you declare to live is Christ and to die is gain?

Your shepherd,

Pastor Mark