There is a center to our lives that gives us direction. Some place family, work, hobbies or self-awareness in that center. You could see where any one of those things could take you in various directions. What would happen if we were Christ-centered? To do that, we first have to die to ourselves (Gal. 2:20). We must die to sin (Rom. 6:1-4). We must also die to the world (Gal. 6:14).
Once these distractions are out of the way we can truly live. “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). The abundant life is only achievable with Christ as our center. Paul said, “according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:20-21). Let’s look at this in three different ways.
For me to live in Christ. There is a lot to be said for being in a relationship with Christ. We have, “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3). Jesus said this about living in Him, “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). In Him, we have everything, and apart from Him, we can do nothing.
For me to live with Christ. When Paul wrote Timothy he mentioned that in his first defense no one stood with him, but the Lord was with him and strengthened him (2 Tim. 4:16-17). He knew what it was like to be alone, but he had the assurance that the Lord was with him. “He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters” (Matt. 12:30). Christ is very clear that we must have a life with Him.
For me to live for Christ. “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men” (Col. 3:23). Living for Christ means we have changed the focus off of ourselves and to Him. He should be the center. When that is aligned right, then our actions are for Him. We should live for Christ because He lived for us (John 1:4-5), He suffered for us (Matt. 27:26-31), and He died for us (Rom. 5:8). When these things are on our minds it is easier to put our focus on Him.
When Paul says, “For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain,” He was in a spiritually-balanced life. We need to make sure Christ is centered in our lives so that we can truly achieve that abundant life in Him. He is not promising riches, but “What would a man give in exchange for his soul?” We have an opportunity to live, without the fear of death, a life that is laser-focused on Christ, our center.