My Life for Your Better

Have you ever asked, “Why am I still alive?” If heaven is so wonderful and everything here seems so painful and challenging, why am I still here? What’s the point of continuing to live in this corrupt and confusing world that seems to hate me and hate God? Why must I live in decomposition and decay when glorious eternity is right there? Am I just surviving and living to make it?

Philippians 1:21-24 ESV — For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.

Our life in the flesh is to demonstrate Christ, to produce godly fruit, and to benefit others. Once we come to believe and know Jesus, to depart from these bodies is going to be far better, but you and I have a three-part mission:

To demonstrate Christ
To produce godly fruit
To benefit others

This is why He doesn’t immediately zap you up the moment you get saved. For you to remain in the flesh is more necessary for those around you. Your life is for my better. And my life is for your better. We do not live for selfish gain but to demonstrate Christ, to produce godly fruit, and to benefit each other.

There is nothing I can do or achieve that is as wonderful as what I will experience in His perfect presence. If there is nothing that compares, then there is no good reason for me to remain. The only reason I continue in the flesh is because it’s necessary for someone else. I live to demonstrate Christ, to produce godly fruit, and to benefit others.

Matthew 20:25-28 ESV — But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles Lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Matthew 23:11-12 ESV — “The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Mark 9:35 ESV — And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”

What is Jesus repeatedly communicating in these verses? He came in the flesh to serve and to demonstrate to all those who would follow Him that our time in the flesh is purposed for service. Everything about our culture teaches the opposite and encourages us to use our time, energy, and resources for selfish gain. But the moment we put our faith in Him for eternal life, our paradigm of this life is completely and radically transformed.

Psalm 139:16 ESV — Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

Just as we have a revelation of eternal life, we also have a revelation of our created purpose in this natural life. God has numbered our days in this first body on this fallen world, and He’s written our story of Christlike service. We desire to see our remaining lifespan according to His wisdom. And we do this not just with our eyes on heaven but with our longing for His return.

Psalm 90:12-13 ESV — So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants!

John 9:4 ESV — “We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.”

In Luke 19, Jesus shares the Parable of the Talents. He talks about a prince leaving to receive his kingdom. While he’s gone he tells his servants to take care of everything until he returns. This was instructions to us. Jesus ascended to receive His throne, but He will return. In His “absence”, He’s given us His Spirit and a command to handle His business. We do this according to the example He gave us, in humility and service, investing our lives for others. We live to demonstrate Christ, to produce godly fruit, and to benefit others.

Questions:

What does it look like for you to demonstrate Christ? In your household? In your workplace? In your church?
What is godly fruit?
Do you believe your natural lifespan is for the benefit of others and the length of your days is necessary for others?
Who will you benefit today and how will you benefit them?

Seeking His face!
Matt