As Paul the apostle sat in a
Roman prison, he knew there was the possibility that he would die for
sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. As he wrote to the Philippian
church, he shared with them about the benefits both of living and
dying - “to live is Christ, and to die is gain”. In
chapter one and verse twenty-four of Philippians, Paul expounded upon
the advantage to the church members if he lived where he wrote:
The
verse begins, “Nevertheless to abide in the flesh...”
Paul knew there was an advantage to the Philippians if he were to
“abide” which means “to stay at or with, to tarry still,
to continue, or remain” living “in the flesh”. As long
as Paul was living, he could share truth and understanding from the
scriptures with the church members. With joyful resolve Paul uses the
word “Nevertheless” to share the advantage of staying
alive and being with them.
The verse goes on to say, “...is more
needful for you.” Paul added
that it is “more needful”
that he live which means “necessary, what one can not do
without, indispensable” for those who were members of the church in
Philippi. By making this statement Paul employs a principle which he
gives to the Philippian church in chapter two and verse three:
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory;
but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than
themselves.
Paul
thought of the benefit to the Philippians if he stayed alive, and
because he was thinking of others rather than himself, he resolved to
do what was best for them.
As
we ponder Paul's words, do we have others in our lives who benefit
because we live? Would we be able to declare that it is “more
needful” or “necessary”
for us to live because our living becomes their advantage? The
underlying thought in these words of Paul is that he has invested in
the church members in Philippi, and because he has, they know it is
beneficial for him to continue to pour into their lives. Perhaps as
we consider these things, we will think of others whom we have
invested in who are advantaged by our living, and if we cannot think
of anyone, maybe it is time to be as Paul and “esteem”
others better than ourselves.
Next
time Paul writes more about the benefit of staying alive, 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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