Sunday Devotional: Philippians 1:21-24

²¹ For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain. ²² And if to live in the flesh, this for me is fruitful work, but I don’t know which I prefer. ²³ I am torn between the two, having the desire to depart and to be with Christ, for [this is] very much better, ²⁴ or to remain in the flesh, which is more necessary for your sake.

Continuing with our series of thoughts from Philippians. Paul is in prison, and, as was often the case, there was the threat that this might be his last imprisonment. However, if (as certain hints in chapter 1 indicate), this was written during his imprisonment in Rome, then the possibility of martyrdom was very real.

As with all the heroes of the Bible, it’s very easy to put Paul on a pedestal and consider him super-human. Yes, he had a very special calling, and God used him to write Scripture. He had faith and a depth of maturity that often amazes us. But he was human too. He had struggles, he sinned, and he didn’t always know the right thing to do.

In this passage, Paul faces up to the possibility–even probability–of death, and the fact that he may never see the Philippian church again. Which would he prefer? To die, and be in the presence of Christ, or to have more time on earth (living “in the flesh” as opposed to living “in the spirit”–i.e., in heaven with Christ) to minister to the Philippians? While Paul is impressed with their progress in the faith, he clearly feels there is more work that needs to be done among them. Paul feels the pastoral pull to be the one to supply that need, and to finish the work he has begun.

Is this something you’ve thought about? Do you resist the idea of death because there is so much left you want to do, people you want to minister to, lives you want to impact with the gospel? Paul goes on in the following verses to express confidence that he would see the Philippian church again. And maybe he did–we don’t know for certain. But I think he answered his question in verse 6, which we looked at in a devotional a few months ago: “Being convinced of this very thing, that the one who began a good work in you will finish [it] until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Paul didn’t have to be concerned about finishing the work begun in the lives of the Philippian believers. Indeed, the work he did was, in fact, a work that God did through him, so it was God’s work to begin with. And the work that God began, He will complete–with or without Paul. And the same goes for us. We should never let ourselves be tied to this world and the things of this world, thinking somehow God needs us to be here to finish the work He has started through us. It is our pleasure and privilege to be used by God in whatever He does. But God is not obliged to use us, and His plans will not crumble without us. God starts the work, and He will complete it. This gives us the freedom to live for Him without fear of the future.

Have a blessed week!