God’s Word for You

Philippians 1:22 fruitful labor

by Pastor Timothy Smith on Thursday, February 26, 2026

22 If I am to go on living in the flesh, for me this will mean fruitful labor. But what should I prefer? I do not know.

Paul will continue with this line of thinking, almost a soliloquy, through verse 26. He has made his proposition, and he carries his thoughts through with these points:

Statement: To live is Christ, to die is gain (1:21)

a, Living means more fruitful labor (1:22)
b, His desire is to be with Christ (a Christian view of death) (1:23)
c, The Philippians no doubt hope for his life (1:24)
d, Convinced of this, he will live (1:25)
e, This is so that their joy will be complete (1:26)

It is hardly Hamlet’s debate over “self-slaughter,” although Paul is also contemplating death. But Paul is considering the joys of Paradise in the light of the needs of the Philippians.

In this verse, Paul allows his work from his own point of view to be considered. To go on living would mean useful work in God’s kingdom. This, I think, is the better understanding of the very compact Greek phrase τοῦτό μοι καρπὸς ἔργου, “this for me (the) fruit-of work.” Others (Lightfoot) have considered the other possibility, that he might be saying or thinking, “I might be able to reap the fruit of my toil.” But Paul does not give thought to earthly rewards, nor would he set this as a consideration in an Epistle like this. It must be that he considers that continuing in life would mean more fruitful, useful work in the service of Christ.

Such fruitful labor is imperfect, and yet it is useful to God. Temptation is commonplace to all men (1 Corinthians 10:13), “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), and “there is no one righteous, not one” (Romans 3:10). Sirach correctly warns, “My son, if you come forward to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for temptation” (Sirach 2:1). The ancient Cyprian also said, “We cannot exist without some wound of conscience.”

We sin every day, and more than that, every thought, word, deed, heartbeat and breath of man is stained with sin, both inherited and actual. We are slaves to sin (Romans 7:14). And yet God cleanses us and also sanctifies the work that we do for him, just as he had Moses sanctify the tabernacle before it was used in his service. “Purify the altar by making atonement for it, and anoint it to consecrate it” (Exodus 29:36). This was repeated with everything in the tent: the ark, the table and all its accessories, the lampstand and all its accessories, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering, the basin (bronze sea) and its stand, and all the other accessories (Exodus 30:26-29). And so it is with our works. They are done with good intentions, but they are touched and even drenched in sin. But God removes the guilt and the shame, and accomplishes his plans even through our troubled works. He sanctifies what we do.

This is how Paul can call his labor “fruitful” for the Lord. But to keep doing such labor, or going to see Christ forever? Paul says, “What should I prefer? I do not know.” Notice that there is no intermediate state; no alternative to being dead and with Christ, or being alive and still in a state of sin. Professor Hoenecke writes: “The souls that have been parted from the body by death are not in an intermediate state in the time between death and the final judgment. The believing souls are not in a sleeping or half-blissful state, and the godless souls are not in a state hovering between rescue and damnation. Instead, the believing souls go immediately to the blissful contemplation of God, and the godless souls go immediately into eternal damnation.”

Consider: Jesus tells us that believers are with the Lord in this life. They already know Jesus in faith. “They may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3). So it wouldn’t be a step forward if, in death, the souls of believers drifted into some half-sleeping state, without actually knowing Jesus. This would be a separation from Christ. It would be hell! But the Bible proclaims and demonstrates that believers are present and awake in heaven after they die, such as we see in the account about Abraham and Lazarus in heaven (Luke 16:25).

And as for some intermediate state of limbo or purgatory, we don’t need to go any farther than 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 to know that we have two states. The first is the “tent” of this earthly life, and the only other is the building from God, the eternal house in heaven (2 Corinthians 5:1). Lutherans confess together: “Purgatory and the pomp, services and business transactions associated with it are to be regarded as nothing else than illusions of the devil, for purgatory is contrary to the fundamental article that Christ alone, and not the work of man, can help souls” (Smalcald Articles, Part II, Article II:12).

This verse does not point out a specific sin, but demonstrates the Apostle’s thoughts about facing life or death. He teaches us to be content whatever the circumstances of our life, and to face death with anticipation of the glories in heaven. Paul will return to this profound lesson in the fourth chapter, when he says, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (Philippians 4:11). Let us learn this lesson and take it to heart, so that whatever the state of our bodies, the state of our souls is certain, and we will be able to serve God in whatever way he needs us to, whether by living or dying, teaching or learning, speaking or listening, waking or sleeping. Let us do all to the glory of God.

In Christ,
Pastor Timothy Smith

 

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