Philippians 1:21 “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. 23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: 24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.”
The Apostle Paul desired to depart this life “to be with Christ”, knowing that being in the immediate presence of his beloved Lord would be “far better” than living in this present world. But he wrote, “Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you”; that is, he understood that the Lord had a work for him to accomplish in this present world, and his love for his Lord and His Lord’s People and Church compelled him to continue his work “in the flesh” as long as the Lord was pleased to use him in His service. No doubt, by this time his natural body suffered daily miseries from the harsh treatment he had received; for, he had endured much “In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by” his “own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.” (II Corinthians 11:26-27). His continued work was needful for their “furtherance and joy of faith”, that their “rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ”, that their “conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ”, that they might “stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel”, and that they would be “in nothing terrified by” their “adversaries” (Philippians 1:25-28). These things are also inherent in Pastors’ duties and were strongly implied when Paul charged the Ephesian Elders to “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” (Acts 20:28) and when Peter instructed the Elders to “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.” (I Peter 5:2-3). In our day, we are in great need of and ought to pray for and strive for this kind of dedication to duty and loving pastoral care and faithfulness to our Lord!