In Philippians 1:21 the Apostle Paul writes, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” After his conversion to Christ, Paul would live his life for one purpose—to glorify God by living in obedience to him. Paul writes to the church at Philippi to teach them about the joy salvation brings to those who are truly saved. Paul could speak to this issue because he knew what it was like to discover freedom from the law of sin and enter into the bliss of divine relationship with the Heavenly Father. Paul sought to bring everything in his life captive to the will and glory of God. He demonstrated how his life was defined by Christ by surrendering everything from personal comfort and ambition to his very life for the cause of Christ.

 

As a pastor I encounter all sorts of people. There are certainly those who I know that are completely sold out for Christ. These people are the greatest blessings to me as I see their desire to live for Christ. Their passion to please him is an awesome thing to behold! However, there are also those Christians who are trying to live between two worlds. What I mean is that they try at times to please God and do the right things, but they also refuse to sacrifice the things of this world that are important to them. Although things like careers, jobs, educational pursuits, hobbies, children, and family are important aspects of our lives we must learn to surrender these things to the will of God. Some people I know are so consumed with “climbing the latter” in their careers that they have no room for God. With other people it is an obsession with a particular hobby or entertainment that pulls their heart away from Christ. These people call themselves Christians yet ironically, they live in disobedience to the Great Commandment—to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. They allow their lives to be defined by the things of this world instead of Christ.

 

The Apostle Paul didn’t look for “gain” in this life. He said, “to die is gain.” He was willing to wait for his eternal reward in Heaven. As Christians we should continually strive to allow our lives to be defined by Christ. I encourage you to meditate on your life for a moment. Are you truly surrendered to the cause of Christ? Have you given him everything? Have you decided that “to live is Christ”? If many of us are honest with ourselves I believe we will be forced to admit that we struggle with giving everything to God and following him with a heart fully dedicated to his will. Some people struggle because they love something or someone else more than God, which enables that person or thing to drive their lives instead of God. Other people struggle with fear and anxiety. They are simply afraid to surrender everything to God because it requires them to surrender control and certainty and learn to be patient upon the Lord.

 

When I am faced with these sins in my life, I must remind myself of the gospel of Christ. He gave everything for me so I could gain faith in him. Everything in my life must be brought into submission to the will of God for me. Every decision from whether or not to sleep in on Sunday morning instead of going to Sunday School to choosing a place to live and a job to hold should be made with the intent of obeying God’s will and bringing him glory. For it is in a life that is surrendered to God that a person can find true joy. I encourage you to live for Christ. Make him your heart’s desire so you can say with integrity, “For me to live is Christ, but to die is gain.”