PHILIPPIANS 1:19-26
COMMENT:
Ultimately, as Bob Dylan pointed out, "you gotta serve somebody." Most of the time in this fallen world, we end up serving in some way or another our own selfish motives. But there are all sorts of ways this "service" can be expressed; even the things that look selfless, can ultimately be ways of serving ourselves. Take for example the parent who without ceasing worries about their child (Now I'm not talking here about healthy concern for your child's well being, but I'm talking about making yourself sick, unable to sleep anxiety over your child). From the outside of things it may look as though that worry for the child actually comes from pure unadulterated love. But scratch a little further beneath the surface and you find that the main reason the parent is really worried is because of how the child's issues will reflect on them. "If they end up being a drug addict, then people will think I'm a bad parent." "If they end up marrying someone who isn't good for them, people will think I raised them poorly." "My child needs to be a success, or I'm a failure in life..." All these sorts of statements, though understandable, ultimately show who the parent is really serving.
For Paul, as much as he would have to battle against his own fleshly desires and sins (Romans 7), his goal in life was to serve his Lord. He writes,
Yes, and I will rejoice, [19] for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, [20] as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. [21] For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Do you see that? Paul is aware that death is looming while forcibly held in a Roman prison. Yet he writes to the Philippians that no matter what he rejoices, because his life's goal hasn't changed and can't be changed: "No matter what the circumstance, I want to honor Christ in my body. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." He is ready to meet his Master, no matter when that day comes. This is indeed a wonderful, fearless, bold way to live. No fear in death, and overwhelming purpose in life.
In light of that fact (that Paul still has much work to do in this life), he tells the Philippians that he is confident that God's not done with him here yet. Yes, he actually wants to go home to the Lord in heaven, but he's still got work to do for the Church. His love of the Church compels him to stay put and work for the benefit and glory of the Church in Philippi. This is Godly service....
Let's pray that in our service, which will inevitably happen, we will ultimately be concerned about God's will for our lives, and benefiting our neighbor. After all that's what Jesus said was at the heart of Christian living:
[37] And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. [38] This is the great and first commandment. [39] And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
(Matthew 22:37-39 ESV)
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Erick
RECEIVING....GROWING....GOING....
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