To Live, is to be Willing to Die
For a man who had nothing, the things he did have I assume would have been extremely important to him. Things like friendships, status in life, and health. Although he was able to make many friends of the faith, his status in the later years of his life was that of a prisoner. The Bible also talks about Paul having a "thorn in the flesh" (2 Corinthians 12:7) which many believe to be a health issue he struggled with. Whether it was a struggle with health, or another type of battle he faced, we can be sure that it was a trial he endured on a regular basis.
He had nothing, but he says in Philippians 3:7-8, "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung; that I may win Christ."
Even the little that Paul had, he viewed as worthless to him as a pile of manure. Oh, if we as Christians today had this same mindset, our churches and this world would be a different place! The temporal things that are so important to us and consume our time and finances, if only we could count them as dung and have the end goal of winning Christ as Paul did!
You see, Paul's focus was not on earthly things. It was not on his relationships, finances, hobbies, or pride. His focus was on doing his best for God so that one day he could hear his Lord say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."
If my focus and attention is not a mirror of this, then I am living a selfish and shallow life. One that will not fulfill me, but will instead control me as I seek to do whatever brings me satisfaction. Through all the trials Paul went through, his relationship with Christ grew to the point where he said, "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." (Philippians 4:11)
He states his passion of life as this: "That I may know him, [Jesus] and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death." (Philippians 3:10)
Is this something I can honestly say along with Paul? Is it something you can say? Our driving factor in life should be something that has little to do with this life and all to do with the next. Our life is not about us, and it never was. We were created for more than ourselves; we were made to give God glory. We were made for one relationship, and that is with God through Christ.
If we are going to pattern our life after Christs' life as we are called to do, then we need to take inventory on what is truly important to us. Can we, like Paul, say that "our conversation is in heaven: from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself." (Philippians 3:20-21)
This is a tall order to follow! In essence, in order for us to live as we ought to, we need to be ready to die. We are not ready to live until we are willing to die. We are to die to self, to our desires, to our passions and pursuits, and to our goals. As we keep our eyes above, earthly things will fade away and seem unimportant in the grand scheme of things.
Even though Paul had very little earthly possessions, he was still able to say, "But I have all, and abound: I am full." He looked at his little and saw fullness because he had the one thing that mattered most - Christ!
Even his "thorn in the flesh" was of little importance to him. He pleaded with God three times for this thorn to be removed from him, and when God's answer was no, Paul still rejoiced! (2 Corinthians 12:7-10) Instead of a carefree life, he was given something much more endearing to him - God's grace.
You see, instead of a pain-free life, Paul had something that you can't obtain through perfect circumstances, but only through God's strength and power. He was given grace to walk through his daily life with God's presence and fullness flowing through him! And that, my friends, is far more precious than good circumstances and great health. God's grace and strength is far more valuable than anything this world can offer! How do I know this? Because Paul may not have had the best health or the most desirable circumstances, but he was able to say, "that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain."
His goal was a Christ-centered life. What is your goal?
"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13)
"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3:1-4)
~Tiffany~
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