HOW YOU LIVING?! — Philippians 1:21
Philippians 1:21
21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
AUTHOR:
The Apostle Paul.
Here’s a fun fact for you regarding Paul that I found well written in one of my new study bibles. So anytime you hear or read about Paul, remember the format that he liked using.
As in all his letters, Paul follows the conventional format of his day for a letter introduction, with its three elements:
1. Identification of the sender
2. Identification of the recipients
3. Greeting
AUDIENCE:
Paul wrote this to the believers at Philippi.
As a prominent city of the gold-producing region of Macedonia, Philippi had a proud history. Named originally after King Philip II of Macedonia, the father of Alexander the Great, the city was later honored with the names of Julius Caesar and Augustus. Many Italian settlers from the legions swelled the ranks of citizens and made Philippi vigorous and multicultural. It grew from a small settlement to a city of dignity and privilege. Among its highest honors was the ius Italicum, by which it enjoyed rights legally equivalent to those of Italian cities. Ruins of the theater, the acropolis, the forum, the baths and the commemorative arch (about a mile west of the city) have been found. A little farther beyond the arch at the Gangites River is the place where Paul met and addressed some God-fearing women and where Lydia was converted (Ac 16:13–15).
It was a prosperous Roman colony, which meant that the citizens of Philippi were also citizens of the city of Rome itself. They prided themselves on being Romans (Ac 16:21), dressed like Romans and often spoke Latin. No doubt this was the background for Paul’s reference to the believer’s heavenly citizenship (3:20–21). Many residents of Philippi were retired military men and their families who had been given land in the vicinity and who in turn served as a military presence in this frontier city. That Philippi was a Roman colony may explain why there were not enough Jews there to permit the establishment of a synagogue and why Paul does not quote the OT in the Philippian letter (but see 1:19; Job 13:16 and notes). The church at Philippi was the first one Paul founded in Europe c. ad 50 on his second missionary journey (Ac 16:12–40)
APPROACH:
Philippians 1:21
21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
I gotta tell you Fam, that if you get a chance to read verses 1–20, do it! It is truly amazing to read Paul write this letter. You can literally feel his sincerity and encouragement within his words to the believers at Philippi.
Now tell me this. What would you do if you were locked up? What would you do if that imprisonment was a false one? What would some of your thoughts be inside of a locked prison cell? Would you be frightened? Would you be quiet? Would you be vocal about your rights? Would you talk to anybody else in that prison? Would you be lonely? So many questions about being locked up, right! Well my dear friends, this is actually the state that Paul was in when he wrote this letter to the believers at Philippi. He was locked up. Let’s take a look at Philippians 1:7, 12–14.
Philippians 1:7
7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.
Philippians 1:12
12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.
Philippians 1:13
13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.
Philippians 1:14
14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.
Do you remember what I said about reading the first 20 verses and how you can literally feel Paul’s sincerity and encouragement within his words to the believers at Philippi? Isn’t it amazing to know that even though Paul’s situation had him in dire straits, he maintained his witness and was still of good cheer. How many of us can truly say that if we were locked up? Remember all of those questions that I asked, if you were to be locked up? Hmmm…says a lot about Paul and even more about us.
So this VOTD already has us thinking about Paul’s situation in a way that challenges us to think about how we should truly live our lives with all this freedom that we’re given. This man was locked up and yet still carried out God’s will of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.
We are free and able to do whatever we want, and never even realizing that we have locked ourselves up with the things or people around us — JT
Take a look at some of the following ways that we lock ourselves with:
- Gossip
- Television
- Idleness
- Laziness
- Social Media
- Overworking
- Resentment
- Pride
- Books
- Worry
Please understand that I am not trying to pass judgment on anyone of you nor am I playing the ‘pointing finger’ game. I just thought to myself of all the ways that time slips away from me because I didn’t use wisdom in the time that I was given as a free individual. Remember that people who are locked up only wish to have the freedom they once had to begin with.
So Paul is telling the believers at Philippi that it is clear that he has been imprisoned (in chains) for Christ. For spreading the gospel of Christ. He goes on to tell them that, there are others waiting to preach Christ and take full advantage of Paul being in prison. And you would think that while in prison Paul would be furious or mad that these ‘not so good’ preachers are doing that stuff while he is locked up, instead he rejoices. He rejoices once again, that his false imprisonment is still moving the cause along. Look below.
Philippians 1:15
15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.
Philippians 1:16
16 The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.
Philippians 1:17
17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.
Philippians 1:18
18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,
So let’s move on to some more good biblical teaching about our VOTD. Let me re-introduce our VOTD again.
Philippians 1:21
21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Paul was torn about something else that is hidden within the VOTD. They were:
1. To Live
2. To Die
Now don’t get it all twisted. He wasn’t tired of living nor was he trying to die sooner than he needed to. He goes on to tell the believers at Philippi within this verse that he, Paul, knew that either living or dying, they both would produce two great benefits. Let’s break it down just a little further in Philippians 1:22–24
Paul is living solely for one purpose. That is Christ. To spread the gospel of Jesus Christ so that others can feel and understand what it means to have a greater hope than this life. But Paul understood that if he is living, he still will have fruitful labor. Paul loved to work and especially work for the Lord.
Philippians 1:22
22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!
Philippians 1:23
23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;
Philippians 1:24
24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.
So one more time, our VOTD.
Philippians 1:21
21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
21. For to me, to live is Christ:
1. To work for Christ
2. Fruitful labor, loving to work
3. Serving others
21. And to die is gain:
1. To be with Christ
2. The fruit of the Spirit
3. Serving Christ
Did you guys catch that?! The difference and rewards of Living and Dying? Do you see now why Paul was torn? Because he understood that both living and dying would still produce a win-win situation for both him and Christ. Oh to have that same mindset. Isn’t it amazing that we are one track minded. All we want to hang on to is, Living. All we see are the rewards of, Living. All we want — is to live. And mind you…we want to live just for ourselves and those close to us. Not all the time, but for most of the time. Oh to have that Paul mindset, thinking, understanding and appreciation of both, LIFE and DEATH.
APPLICATION:
We love Life and hate Death. Why? Because Life gives and Death takes. But seemingly enough, we have it backwards. If we could only see it this way:
- Life Takes Us — Away From Christ
- Death Gives Us — To Christ
another way to look at it…
LIFE TAKES:
Our strength
Our sweat
Our stamina
DEATH GIVES:
No more suffering
No more separation
Rest
Please understand that the things stated above were only applicable to those who know and belong to the Lord. One who is not saved and still is lost would still not receive Christ at death. And they also would not receive Rest at death. Even more reason to not let others run the risk of never knowing Christ to ultimately find hope and rest in Him.
So I leave you with this dear Family to apply that which Paul stated in the scriptures.
Philippians 1:21
21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
21. For to me, to live is Christ:
- To work for Christ
- Fruitful labor, loving to work
- Serving others
21. And to die is gain:
- To be with Christ
- The fruit of the Spirit
- Serving Christ
I will leave you with one more thing that I had to bring over here from one of my favorite commentaries, Barnes’ Notes. You know that I couldn’t leave them behind. They gave eight things that would be gain for a Christian to die for:
- Will be then freed from sin
- Will be freed from doubts
- Will be freed from temptation
- Will be delivered from all his enemies
- Will be delivered from suffering
- Will be delivered from death
- Will be reunited with those whom he/she loved
- Will be admitted to the immediate presence of his Savior and God!
So my dear family, remember to not only live to live, but more importantly, live to die as well.
Whether you live, live for Christ.
Whether you die, die for Christ.
Do all things unto the Lord.
How You Living?! — JT
I happen to Google, “How You Living,” in search of a cool pic to attach to this VOTD and I found this guy giving probably one of the GREATEST speeches I’ve ever heard. It’s 20 mins long, so make time for it. It’s a good one! Enjoy!
Have a GREAT day today!!!
❤️
