Live For Christ, Die With Honor

Paul was inspired to write to the church at Philippi and say to them, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”  The heart and convictions of this great servant of Christ gives us an outstanding example to study. However, we may note in the Bible that this example Paul gives was not accepted by some.

            There was a Pharisee who had his idea of what the highest and most satisfying type of life was. He thought if he could clothe himself in fine robes and enjoy the chief seat in the synagogue, and if he could enjoy the applause of the people when he gave alms or when he prayed, then he would be enjoying the greatest life possible. To the Pharisee, this was life, real life, and to him life was a self-centered experience. He was not concerned about  the  honor and  glory  of God  as  he  was  his own satisfaction. He preferred to draw the attention of people to himself rather than to the God of Heaven and earth. He was not so much concerned about what he said in prayer as he was that the people should know that he was praying, and that he prayed for long periods of time. If he could gain the attention and the applause and commendation of the people, he was satisfied. This to him was the real life. I am made to wonder just how many there are who fit this same thought today.  Sad.

             There was a rich man who had this same idea of what life was all about. Like the Pharisee, life to him was a big farm, or perhaps many farms with rich soil and many servants to care for his land. To him was  great  bumper  crops  to  fill  his  barns to overflowing.  To  him  life  was  a  mansion,  a  fine place in which he may show to  everybody, and enjoy all the luxuries one could ever want. That was life, he thought. This man like the Pharisee was more concerned about filling himself and satisfying his own desires than he was in  ministering to the beggar at his gate. I cannot help but to point out that I run into a few like that today. They are filled with all this world has to offer, and never a thought  about Christ, His church, and righteousness. They are not saying as  did  Paul,  “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”   We  must pray for their repentance, and a return to the service of Christ Jesus, or else when they die it will be loss not gain. Sad.

            According  to  Phil.1:21  Paul’s  life  was  Christ!  To  him, the ideal life was forgetting himself and taking care of the Lord’s work. Paul’s main drive in life was to bring Christ His deserved honor and glory. Therefore, may I day by day “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.”  Then, and only then, when I die will it be gain!

. . . .  Fred  House