Philippians 1:21 says, For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  Paul said that his life was to be lived out so that Christ would be reflected through him.  Paul saw death as a gain and not a loss, but he did not want to die just because he would be with Christ forever.  Like Paul, no matter how bad things get in life because of our faith in Christ, we should always live by faith so that the world will see Christ when they look at us.  I personally don't think that we should fear death, neither should we look forward to dying as long as we have work left to do for Christ.  Verse twenty-two states, But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.  Paul said that living in the flesh, or this world, was the fruit of his labor.  No matter what was happening in his life, he was a witness for Christ.  Paul then said if the choice was his, he wasn't sure what he would chose, to live in this sinful world or to go on to be with Christ.  It was not his choice to make though, and it will never be ours.  If we have accepted Christ as our Savior and Lord, as long as God gives us life we are to work for His glory, and when we die, we will be with Him forever.  Verse twenty-three adds, For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:  Paul said he was in a dilemma.  He desired to depart, or leave this life, to be with Christ.  I know today, many days it may seem better to simply go on to be with Christ in our heavenly home, and that desire may be stronger the more we suffer for our faith, which most of us here in America have never really done much.  Then, verse twenty-four continues, Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.  Paul said that continuing to live was more needful for those that he had and was witnessing to.  Paul may have felt that death would be better for him, but it would be a selfish choice.  As followers of Christ, we should never live by selfish choices, but should always live that Christ will be glorified and others will benefit from our following God's call.  Verse twenty-five declares,  And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;  Paul said  that he had confidence that he was to abide for awhile longer, for the furtherance of the joy and faith of those believers at Philippi.  We today need to realize that if we as followers of Christ are still living, it is not for our benefit but for the benefit of our fellow believers and for those that we can yet witness to.  Verse twenty-six adds, That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.  Paul said that he believed that he would come to the Christians at Philippi again, so that their rejoicing in Jesus Christ would be more abundant.  Paul did not say that they would rejoice in him, but that they would rejoice in Christ because of his coming to them.  No matter how popular a preacher may be today, if we celebrate the fact that he is coming to us and glorify him instead of Christ, then we are not following God's will.  Verse twenty-seven states, Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;  Paul said that whether he came to them or not, he wanted to hear that they were standing fast in one spirit and with one mind, and that was to present the gospel of Christ and to live by God's guidance.  Our faith should never be in another person, but in Christ alone.  Verse twenty-eight declares, And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.  Paul said that they were not to be terrified by their adversaries, whose actions were for the perdition of those adversaries, but was to the Christians salvation and the glory of God.  We need never live in fear of the world today if we are faithful in our relationship with Christ.  Verse twenty-nine adds, For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;  Paul said not only were we called to believe in Christ, but also to suffer for His sake.  This is about as far as we can get from the concept that as Christians that God wants us to always be prosperous.  Verse thirty concludes, Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.  Paul said he knew that many of the believers at Philippi had the same conflict, but called on them to follow his example of putting it all in God's hands.  That should be the way that we live our lives today.  We know that as followers of Christ we have an everlasting home with God, and life will be so much better when we get there, but we should live everyday for God's glory until God calls us home.