To Die Is Gain: Finding Life Through Surrender

Philippians 1:21

²¹ For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (NIV)

Dying is gain. 

In our passage, the Apostle Paul is speaking of literal life and death. His point is that as long as he is here, he will live for Christ, and when he leaves this life, Heaven will be better. However, in the context of our spiritual journey, we are to die to ourselves daily, and this, also, is gain (Luke 9:23).

Christ defines discipleship as a daily death to self for the sake of doing for others what is best for their soul. The world rejects this life principle in favor of individualism and self-actualization. These are the hallmarks of sin - putting self first, believing we have the ability to create our best life without help from anyone, especially God. We need only to look at the elite of our culture to see that this secular philosophy proves empty. Those who have an excess of abundant resources to make their life whatever they want will use those same resources to engage in the most destructive behavior. They are financially wealthy, but spiritually and emotionally broke. We don’t always see it, and neither do they, because their vast wealth can hide the internal collapse quite well. Nevertheless, God has mincemeat of the world’s wisdom. 

Only when we die to self and pursue Christ as our true source do we discover real life and lasting gain. Our best life will never be found in our accomplishments or accumulations. Fulfillment fills our souls when we help others in transformative ways. Our sense of worth skyrockets. Our sense of purpose overflows. Joy becomes the norm. Hope stays. Our outlook in all circumstances turns positive as we see all that God can do even as we have the joy of doing His work knowing we have changed lives, rescued souls, broken curses, and humiliated the hounds of Hell in the spiritual realm. Truly, to die is gain.

Prayer: Lord, may Your Holy Spirit help me to resist the natural human tendency of prioritizing self and live for You. Amen.