Better! Far Better

Philippians is a deep and rich well. So much more than “just rejoice” (though that’s there too). In chapter one, verse 21, Paul writes, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Paul is not suicidal. In fact, to believe he is would be to see only half the verse. We’ve heard people say: “What if you die?” Paul would also have us ask: “What if you LIVE?!” And he answers his own question: to live is Christ. Then he says in verse 23: “…being with Christ is far better.”

Here the language gets very rich. The Greek phrase is πολλῷ μᾶλλον κρεῖσσον or pollō mallon kreisson. It’s three Greek words piled on top of each other for the sake of emphasis. pollō “by much,” “far,” mallon “more,” kreisson “better.”

Paul’s not just floating out there the truth that it would be better to be with Christ than to be here. What he says is actually richer and more energized than that.

It’s more like he says:

“It is much, much better. Better by far. Beyond comparison, better.”

While here, live—live for Christ. But it will get tough at times. At times you’ll not want to move forward, but ultimately, you keep going. You keep walking. Because the road ahead leads to Christ.

And, in case you forget, muck through all the slop down here. Keep going. When we get there—it will be much better. Much more. Better by far. Better beyond the stretch of human language to compare.

So, don’t quit. The journey, the challenge, the battle, the work, the frustrations, the difficulties, they’re worth it because of where we’re going.

To be with Christ.

Better than it all.

Don’t quit.