Philippians 1:21–For Me To Live Is Christ

Philippians 1:21: "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."

This verse lends itself to easy misinterpretations but it is still one of my favorites.  The basic context of this verse is that Paul is telling the readers that there is nothing, not a single thing that is more powerful or more important than Christ.  In fact, everything is but vainly worthless compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing and loving Christ.  Not even our own life is more valuable than knowing God and being known by Him.

But we sin hinders our ability to see this profoundly affective truth.  It is no wonder that we have a skewed system of evaluation.  We rank and file everything in life but we do so comparing and contrasting rubbish to other rubbish.  It all, then, comes into proper light and perspective when we begin to see the Holy Lord of the universe.  We are privileged to receive a revelation of what life was meant to be: that is, devoted in faith to God for every fiber of our being to be sustained moment-to-moment by His powerful Word.

Recognizing how foundational this assertion becomes is thus necessary for us to say in faith and in truth: "for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."