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Philippians 1: Should I Stay (part 5: Phil 1:18b-26)

 Verses 18b-26:

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labour for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.

 

Paul is, in essence, like this song [from the Heavy Metal Hymnal, see below], asking the question of God

Should I stay, or should I go now?

Should I stay, or should I go now?

If I go, I'll be with You, wow!

And if I stay, I will share your love now

So I know You'll let me know

 

Saviour, You will let me know

Should I stay, or should I go?

If you say that you're inclined

I'll be here till the end of time

So I know You'll let me know

Should I stay, or should I go?

 

Paul is quite happy to die. Now, from what we have read so far in the letter we know that Paul isn’t depressed either clinically or metaphorically. Paul would absolutely love to continue working for the Lord here – but if the Lord transfers him to Heaven (or wherever the Lord is prior to the ultimate resurrection) he is more than happy with that too. Like a Salvation Army Officer in April, he is very happy to keep serving with the corps he has been serving with until now; however, if he is transferred he will be more than fine as long as he is with the Lord. Paul isn’t looking to get away from his current appointment (even as it has him chained up in jail!); he would love to continue working for the Lord and is happy to do it in this life and ready to serve in the next, if it is that time.

          I think this is very important. Like a lot of Officers, I can be tempted to whine too much. If I have whined to you, I apologize. This passage is important for me to remember. It doesn’t matter what HQ does or even why they are doing it, whether it is, like verses 15-18a says, “for good motives or bad.” What matters is that I, we, continue to serve the Lord joyfully in whatever circumstance the Lord has us in – whether it is in a prison, a headquarters’ desk job, or serving on the front lines. Whatever happens in this life, we need to press on and continue to encourage others to do so as well – it is a no lose situation after all: we can either continue to serve Christ in whatever our circumstance (which will bring us Joy because it will bring God joy) or we will go to be with our Lord fulltime – a  no lose situation, Paul says.

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