What’s your philosophy of life and death? That’s a crucial question, since we all live, and we all die, and how we view life and death impacts both how we do both of those things. Our lives are a reflection of our philosophy. Our thoughts and attitudes, our values and priorities, are shaped by how we view life and death.
So, what’s your philosophy of life and death? If you don’t have one, may I recommend the one written all over the life of the Apostle Paul: For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21)
In practical terms, to live is Christ means giving to those in need, sharing the gospel, helping others to know God and His Word, taking time to lift up those who have fallen. It means living like Jesus did.
To live is Christ means using our money as though it were God’s (which it is), turning our spiritual gifts and talents into ministry, and loving and serving our family as God intended…not to mention our friends, neighbors, even our enemies!
Think about it: if to live is Christ, then to die is gain. If our lives are so wrapped up in Christ, then to die is gain because we will be with Him and we will be like Him. We will be with the One we love, exalt, honor, and serve.
But if to live is anything other than Christ, then to die is not gain. If to live is status (to be popular, recognized, famous), then to die is loss, because you won’t be able to enjoy it. If to live is the accumulation of wealth, then to die is loss, because you can’t take it with you. If to live is a career (the promotions, the power, the prestige), then to die is loss since the corporate ladder ends in the grave. If to live is “stuff” (the things of this world), then to die is loss because we leave it all behind.
If to live is anything else but Christ, then to die is loss.
Do you view death as Paul viewed death – as gain? That can only happen when we view life as Paul viewed life – that to live is Christ. When our lives are so wrapped up in Christ, then to die is gain because we will be with Him and we will be like Him.
What is life to you?
For more on this Philippians 1:18b-26, listen to the sermon by John Goasdone.