For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Philippians 1:21 (ESV)
When Paul wrote these words, he was in prison. He was expecting to be released, but that was not certain. As he wrote to the Philippian church, he expressed his thoughts about two alternatives: being executed or being released. And he expressed that his preference was execution. Death would bring him into Christ’s presence, and nothing would be better than that. But continued life in this world would be advantageous to those Paul would be able to reach and teach for Christ.
As a believer, the choice to live or die is not really ours to make. The choice I do have is what to do while I live. Will I live to satisfy my own human desires? Or will I live to please my Lord?
For Paul, to live was Christ. Christ was his life. And everything he did was done to please Christ. That was the greatest desire of his heart.
My Greatest Desire
When I read Paul’s words here, I have to wonder. Can I truthfully say the same thing? That for me to live is Christ? Is He what I live for? Is He what I want more than anything?
Every moment of every day cannot be devoted to Bible study, prayer, or worship, as good as those things are. I need to eat, sleep, and exercise. I need to invest time in my marriage and in maintaining my home. And I spend time backpacking, reading, and doing other recreational activities.
But where is my heart? Is Christ my life? Or does He share it with everything else? Do I seek to honor Him in all that I do? Or just with the ‘religious’ stuff?
I have to admit that I am not there yet. But that is the desire of my heart. To live for Christ. To have Him at the center of all that I am and in everything I do.
