“Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.”
Paul invested time and energy into a lot of people. He established many churches across much of the known world and risked his life doing it. It’s no wonder that he has strong feelings about that work not going to waste! Here he encourages the Philippians to hold on to all that he taught them so that his work would not be wasted. He also invites them to share in presenting offerings to God through their own ministry to others.
In my counseling work, I invest in a lot of people. Since 2005 I have worked with hundreds of people to help them find emotional freedom and get unstuck. And I could truly never convey with words the joy I have when I see people living their lives free and whole — the people God created them to be. I cheer them on and encourage them to keep going so that the work we did together will make an ongoing difference in their lives. And when I see them being a positive influence in the lives of others, it is a ripple effect that truly only God can measure.
Who are you investing in? If you aren’t pouring into someone else right now, think about the people who have poured into you. What did they do that was meaningful for you? How could you serve others in that same way. As Paul tells us here, there is a different kind of supernatural joy that comes when our lives become a “liquid offering.” Chase after freedom by being a blessing to others.