Originally posted on Fruitofmybranches.com
“For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live. Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith. And when I come to you again, you will have even more reason to take pride in Christ Jesus because of what he is doing through me.” – Philippians 1:20-26
In this passage, Paul is literally talking about life and death. He faced so many difficulties in life that he seriously started thinking about how much better it would be if he died and could be with Jesus. It’s not that he was suicidal. His life was actually in danger daily, so it was reasonable for him to have morbid thoughts. If he were to die, it would be way better for him. He wouldn’t have to face persecution; he could rest; and he wouldn’t have to fight anymore.
You would think that Paul would’ve been accepting of death and welcomed it without hesitation, but there was one problem: Purpose. Paul knew that he was called to share the good news and he knew there were people that needed him. Although he was okay with his life ending, and preferred it, he knew that his life was precious to others. He knew that God could still do great works through him for the benefit of others. So, what did Paul decide? He decided that it was necessary to die to his desires, so he could live for God’s desires.
How does Paul’s example relate to us today? The majority of the people I know are not facing life-threatening persecution; they haven’t been put on trial and jailed for sharing their faith; and they’re not rejected by their own people because of their faith. Although Paul’s literal example is not relatable to most, giving up on your purpose or assignment due to tough circumstances is something we can identify with…
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