Paul the apostle wrote these
words to the Philippian church members “to live is Christ, and
to die is gain”. It was Paul's resolve that there was benefit
both to living and dying. In chapter one and verse twenty-two of
Philippians Paul continues his thoughts about choosing between life
and death where he wrote:
The
verse begins, “But if I live in the flesh, this is
the fruit of my labor:” Paul
employs the disassociation conjunction “But”
as he began the continuation of his thoughts. We may recall from
previous teachings that the word “But”
denotes “a current statement taking precedence over what was
previously stated”. In this case Paul is comparing the value of
living to the value of dying. He stated “if I live in the
flesh” which means if he
continues to live in his earthly body, “this is the
fruit” which refers to “that
which originates or comes from something, an effect, result, profit
or advantage” “of my labor” or
his work in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul knew there was an
advantage to the church in Philippi and others if he continued to
live in his earthly body.
The verse goes on to say, “yet
what I shall choose I know not.” As
though Paul had a choice in the matter, he declared “yet
what I shall choose” which
means “to take for oneself, to prefer, to choose by vote, or
elect to office” “I know not” or “I cannot decide or
figure out”. We can almost imagine Paul attempting to weigh the
choices in his mind and discovering the advantages to each. He knew
it was to the profit of many people if he stayed alive, but it was
his personal advantage if he should die and go to be with Jesus.
Have we ever weighed in the
balances of our minds the choices of living or dying? If we were to
examine our lives would we be able to conclude a benefit to others by
our living? Have we ever thought about our personal advantage if we
were to die and be with Christ Jesus? One of the greatest ways to
understand the Bible is to put ourselves in the position of either
the writer himself or the characters about whom he writes. As we
ponder Paul's words in this verse, let us place ourselves in his
position, examine the two choices, and determine whether we can
conclude “fruit” in our labor if we live, and “gain”
to ourselves if we were to die. May the Lord Jesus reveal to us the
advantages of both.
Next
time Paul writes of the strait he was in, so read ahead, and we shall
join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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