Philippians I
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21 ESV)
Bucket Lists
I read recently that over 90% of people’s bucket list items fall into the categories of travel, adventure, and personal growth.
Paul’s bucket list, described in this verse, is not very modern, is it?
First on Paul’s bucket list is Christ. Not merely to imitate Christ, not merely to know Christ, not merely to be Christian… but simply Christ.
Christ loved. Christ served. Christ lived for His people, completely. All the way to death, through resurrection, and up to God’s right hand.
Most important for Paul, in Paul’s life… is to love, to serve, to live for God’s people completely. All the way through Paul’s life until he would die… and through Christ’s gate into heaven… and reigning at Christ’s side.
How different Paul’s bucket list is!
And then, even more surprisingly, as amazing as those life goals are, Paul says that to die is gain.
Death, rather than failure and “the end of it all”, was better than his life, his Christ, his everything.
What a bucket list!