And lastly, the fourth trait we see of a life well spent is to Make others better in Christ (v. 25, 26).
“I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.”
Paul was confident that he was going to be with the Philippians again and that he would be a cause of their progress and joy in the faith. It comes to mark our maturity in the Lord Jesus Christ when we know our lives rub off on others for His benefit. When we can be sure that we are a sharpened and polished instrument in the Lord’s hand to be used in the surgery of sanctification in the lives of others, we can be sure that our lives are being well spent. “I know that I will remain” Paul says and “I know that will mean your progress and your joy.” What a sweet fellowship with the Philippians to know that being with them meant they would be better off.
Do you know people are better off in the Lord for having been with you? I mean, this is the crux of what Paul is saying: You Philippians are going to be comforted in Christ, more knowledgeable of Him, increase in your Christ-like character, more proud in Christ, more joyful in the faith with me coming to you again, then if I do not come. Are you a person who impacts people the same way? Are you confident you do? Paul knew he was. Maturity in our faith means a confidence in our usefulness to the Lord.
To make others better in their faith requires a self-less-ness. To be used of Him; to be completely abandoned of our wants, our dreams, our purposes and ambitions, and to be instead filled with and submitted to His desires and His plans, brings the satisfaction that our life has been expended worthily of Him. Paul was self-less. Verses 22-24 give us some insight into the tug-of-war that Paul felt inside regarding two good options for himself. He says, “Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.” It was not Paul’s choice whether he lived or died. But, his attitude was such that he was ready to wait for death – even though he longed for it and in a sense ‘couldn’t wait’ for it because it was better by far than living in his body. He was ready to wait for what was better by far for him so that others may benefit from his remaining alive.
Here’s the application: Are you ready to give up what benefits you so that others may benefit? Are you willing to go without so others may gain? Here we are right back to one of our very core virtues found in this Philippian letter: putting others before ourselves. Paul talks about this in verses 9-11 when he prays they have the self-sacrificing agape love and that they would walk blamelessly where they do nothing for themselves but only speak and do those things that build others up in the faith.
He belabors the point again in chapter 2 verses 3 and 4, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” There is no greater display of the character and work of Christ in you then when you lay your life down for another. “Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” Jesus says in John 15. This is your life in it’s entirety, not just your breath. This is everything that makes up what your life is – your possessions, your popularity, your perspectives, your pride, your schedule, your interests, your whatever! Jesus
Conclusion:
Is your life well spent? Do you have the same confidence that you are spending your life in a way that counts for Christ? To put it another way, is your life worth Christ? People spend their life on the things they think are worthwhile:
· Possessions (money and things),
· Power (position and status),
· Pleasure (feel good),
· Popularity (being liked and admired),
· Philanthropy (doing good, helping others, religion),
· Purpose (supporting a cause, having meaning in life, making a difference)
If you spend your life on anything other than glorifying the name of Jesus Christ, then, you have wasted your life. It’s only the life of Christ in us being lived out that will count.
“I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.”
Paul was confident that he was going to be with the Philippians again and that he would be a cause of their progress and joy in the faith. It comes to mark our maturity in the Lord Jesus Christ when we know our lives rub off on others for His benefit. When we can be sure that we are a sharpened and polished instrument in the Lord’s hand to be used in the surgery of sanctification in the lives of others, we can be sure that our lives are being well spent. “I know that I will remain” Paul says and “I know that will mean your progress and your joy.” What a sweet fellowship with the Philippians to know that being with them meant they would be better off.
Do you know people are better off in the Lord for having been with you? I mean, this is the crux of what Paul is saying: You Philippians are going to be comforted in Christ, more knowledgeable of Him, increase in your Christ-like character, more proud in Christ, more joyful in the faith with me coming to you again, then if I do not come. Are you a person who impacts people the same way? Are you confident you do? Paul knew he was. Maturity in our faith means a confidence in our usefulness to the Lord.
To make others better in their faith requires a self-less-ness. To be used of Him; to be completely abandoned of our wants, our dreams, our purposes and ambitions, and to be instead filled with and submitted to His desires and His plans, brings the satisfaction that our life has been expended worthily of Him. Paul was self-less. Verses 22-24 give us some insight into the tug-of-war that Paul felt inside regarding two good options for himself. He says, “Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.” It was not Paul’s choice whether he lived or died. But, his attitude was such that he was ready to wait for death – even though he longed for it and in a sense ‘couldn’t wait’ for it because it was better by far than living in his body. He was ready to wait for what was better by far for him so that others may benefit from his remaining alive.
Here’s the application: Are you ready to give up what benefits you so that others may benefit? Are you willing to go without so others may gain? Here we are right back to one of our very core virtues found in this Philippian letter: putting others before ourselves. Paul talks about this in verses 9-11 when he prays they have the self-sacrificing agape love and that they would walk blamelessly where they do nothing for themselves but only speak and do those things that build others up in the faith.
He belabors the point again in chapter 2 verses 3 and 4, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” There is no greater display of the character and work of Christ in you then when you lay your life down for another. “Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” Jesus says in John 15. This is your life in it’s entirety, not just your breath. This is everything that makes up what your life is – your possessions, your popularity, your perspectives, your pride, your schedule, your interests, your whatever! Jesus
Conclusion:
Is your life well spent? Do you have the same confidence that you are spending your life in a way that counts for Christ? To put it another way, is your life worth Christ? People spend their life on the things they think are worthwhile:
· Possessions (money and things),
· Power (position and status),
· Pleasure (feel good),
· Popularity (being liked and admired),
· Philanthropy (doing good, helping others, religion),
· Purpose (supporting a cause, having meaning in life, making a difference)
If you spend your life on anything other than glorifying the name of Jesus Christ, then, you have wasted your life. It’s only the life of Christ in us being lived out that will count.
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