20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 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! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. – Philippians 1:20-24
This passage is a wonderful example of how we ought to look at our lives. Every thought, motivation, word, and deed ought to be filtered through this eternal perspective. While this will not happen overnight (and this godly perspective will need constant defense against the devil’s attacks once we manage to gain it through the Holy Spirit), we should all strive to gain and maintain this mature Christian attitude. How to accomplish this? Spiritual growth through diligent attention to the Bible, solid Bible teaching, prayer, personal application of the truth we are learning and believing, and helping our brothers and sisters in their own Christian walk. The more we set our minds on what God wants, the more equip we will be to constantly turn our eyes to the Lord and seek His Will (see Colossians 3:2). The more we choose God’s truth over our own human thoughts and desires, the more closely we can walk with God.
- Verse 20
20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. – Philippians 1:20
When we became Christians, we died to the fleshly and sinful thoughts and attitudes of this world and were made spiritually alive in Christ (see Romans 6:2, Galatians 2:19, Colossians 3:3, Romans 7:4, Romans 6:11, Ephesians 2:5, Colossians 2:13). We do not belong to this world or to ourselves, we belong to God – and we should strive to live our lives to honor Jesus (see 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Romans 6:22, Romans 12:1, Ephesians 6:6). We believers live for God, and if necessary, we will die for Him (see 2 Timothy 2:11-13, Hebrews 10:38-39).
The mature Christian perspective expressed in Philippians 1:20 is a valuable and encouraging one to keep solidly in our hearts and minds – at all times, and especially so for those of us who will have to endure the Tribulation. Whether we are called to endure until its end, when Jesus returns at the close of the Tribulation (see Matthew 24:13), or we are called to endure martyrdom for Jesus at some point during that terrible time, we can have confidence that our faith and sacrifice is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58, 1 Corinthians 15:19-20). Our faith in Jesus is nothing to be ashamed of and suffering for Christ is both expected and a high honor (see Acts 5:41, 2 Thessalonians 1:4-5, 2 Timothy 2:3, Romans 1:16, Romans 5:5, Titus 1:2, Job 1:8, 1 Peter 3:14, Romans 8:17-18, Philippians 3:10-11, 2 Timothy 1:8, 2 Timothy 1:12, James 5:10, 1 Peter 2:19-21, 1 Peter 4:1, 1 Peter 4:16, 1 Peter 4:13). When we understand that our lives are truly in God’s hands, then we can rest assured that no matter what we are called to suffer for Christ’s sake, He will honor Himself through our lives and also work every circumstance out for our eternal good (Romans 8:28).
- Verse 21
21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. – Philippians 1:21
We understand that our lives here in this corrupted world are only a moment compared to eternity (see James 4:14). Anything that belongs to this world that we might set our hearts on will eventually vanish, but our eternal home and rewards can never vanish, once we have won them and are with our Lord (see 1 Peter 1:3-4, Matthew 6:19-21, 1 Peter 5:4). So in life, we have the freedom to serve God (see Galatians 5:13, 1 Peter 2:16).
And when this present life is over? We have no need to fear that. Physical death no longer has any hold over us, since we have trusted in Christ for salvation (see 1 Corinthians 15:55-57, Hebrews 2:14-15, Matthew 10:28). As inheritors of eternal spiritual life, nothing this world or death might do to us has any hold on us (see John 11:25-26, Psalm 23:4).
- Verse 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 1:22
We should view every day the Lord gives us as opportunities to produce more spiritual fruit to God’s honor and glory (see John 15:2, Galatians 5:22-23, Hebrews 3:13, Ephesians 2:10). As long as we are here, we have a mission to fulfill, duties to accomplish (see 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, Ephesians 2:10). We are all expected to grow to maturity and enter into the specific ministry that God has assigned to us (see Colossians 1:28, James 1:4, Ephesians 4:13-15, 1 Corinthians 12:4-7).
Our ministries are not given us due to anything we are or have done. God does not need anything from us, nor does He have to make use of us (see Acts 17:24-25). God Himself empowers all of our legitimate Christian growth and production (see Philippians 2:13, 1 Corinthians 12:6, Colossians 1:29). In His goodness, God blesses us with eternal life and eternal rewards (see Ephesians 2:4-7).
Jesus set us an example by fulfilling His ministry in all diligence, while constantly seeking the Father’s glory (see Luke 2:41-50, Luke 12:50, John 8:50, 54). Although He had every right to seek honor, since He was truly the Son of God, He served us and died for us (see Luke 22:27, Philippians 2 :5-8, Matthew 20:28). We will never come close to walking the perfect walk that Jesus did, but that is the standard to which we are called to strive (see 1 Peter 1:15, 1 John 2:6).
When we honor Jesus and gain eternal rewards for all eternity, we are merely sharing in the rewards that Jesus won at the cross for successfully completing His own mission (see Acts 2:33, Ephesians 4:8, Ephesians 2:7).
- Verses 23-24
23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. – Philippians 1:23-24
Our true home is with the Lord and we long to be with Him (see Philippians 3:20, John 14:2-3, Romans 8:23, 2 Corinthians 5:4). We are strangers here (see Hebrews 11:13). We have set our hearts on another kingdom, a heavenly dwelling with God (see Psalm 84:5, Hebrews 12:28, Hebrews 11:10). That is our eternal hope – but since we do not yet live with the Lord, we wait patiently, knowing that His purposes and timing are perfect (see Romans 8:24-25).
While we wait, let us resolve to spend our remaining time on earth loving God and serving our brothers and sisters to help them on their own Christians walks (see 1 John 3:16, John 13:34-35). When we consistantly give our attention to the Bible and solid Bible teaching, prayer, applying the truth we learn and believe from Scripture to our daily Christian lives, and helping our brothers and sisters in that same process (see Ephesians 4:16, 1 Thessalonians 5:11), we will fulfill God’s purposes for our lives.
13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 3:13-14
