Paul said in Philippians 1 that his only desire was that either through his life or by his death that his body might honor Christ. This is not an extreme response to Christ; this is a right response and the only true response to the grace we have been given in the gospel.
If death means we will be with Christ in complete peace, the fullness of joy and completely free from the bondage of sin forever and ever, then it should be our lives greatest joy to pour out every drop of this life he has given us for his glory.
Have you ever heard the phrase “don’t be so heavenly minded that you're no earthly good”? The truth is, as a Christian the opposite is actually true. People who are focused on self, stuff and the things of this world aren’t very useful for drawing people to God.
Being a slightly more moral version of the pagan chasing the treasures of this world doesn’t stand out like salt or light in this dark world. The only people who are of any earthly good in this life are those unpossessed by possessions, who have already died to this world and are living for the next.
At some point if we really want to win people to the cause of Christ, we are going to have to unhinge from the love and treasure of this world and live lives of missionary sacrifice. Chasing prosperity and comfort and more and more stuff, isn’t going to draw anyone to Christ. It just shows the lost that we are really not much different than them and that we are basically living for the same things they are in this world.
1 John 2:15 says “Do not love the world or anything in the world” and Matthew 6:19 says “Don’t store up for yourselves treasures in this world.” So the question is raised, do you love the world and the things in this world? And where is your treasure? Here in this life or in Christ and in the life to come? Jesus says it can’t be both.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21 (ESV)
What has your heart? It’s very easy for us to lie to ourselves, but honestly examine your life and ask yourself these questions: “What do I treasure? What do I spend the majority of my thought life on? What do I spend the majority of my time on? What do I spend my money on? What is your life actually about? What do people who know you think your life is about?”
The answers to these questions are great clues to what actually holds your heart. Where your treasure is there your heart will be also.
How do you know if your life is bearing fruit that says, “to live is Christ”? Ask yourself this: Do your chains, troubles, trials and struggles somehow advance the gospel of Jesus Christ?
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4 (ESV)
What was Paul most concerned with while he was in jail? Making sure his imprisonment and the fact that he was in chains somehow forwarded the gospel of Christ and brought glory to God. He was happy that the entire palace guard and everyone else knew that he was in chains for Christ.
Paul spent much of his time in jail writing letters of encouragement to the churches he had helped plant. He wasn’t focused on comfort or himself but on living his life in a way that was worthy of Christ and His gospel.
"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel." Philippians 1:27 (NIV)
“Whatever happens”! That is a very broad and direct statement. Whatever happens we must be salt and light and live our lives in a way worthy of the gospel. Christ was beaten, mocked, tortured and eventually killed for you. Live your life accordingly. We are now the trusted messengers of the very message that saved us from destruction. The most precious message in history. A message that brings eternal life to those who are damned.
The true disciple doesn’t ask questions like, “Why me, God? Haven’t I served you?” or say things like, “I don’t deserve this”. The true disciple who trusts the Lord with his life and eternity asks the question, “How can my suffering, my trouble and my pain forward the gospel.”
This is why Paul said “to live is Christ, and to die is gain,” because the life a disciple of Jesus has truly given their life to him to use as he sees fit for his kingdom purposes and to forward the gospel.
In Christ,
Pastor Joshua
Joshua West is a pastor, evangelist, and author. He is also director of the World Challenge Pastors Network.
