Accounting Our Lives as Precious
by Edwin Crozier
Paul clearly had a special relationship with the church in Ephesus. The elders were special to him. When he thought he might be on his way to death, he wanted to make sure he met with those elders one last time. In Acts 20:17-38, he stopped at Miletus and called the elders to meet him for a final message. (Be aware, this shows that being inspired to write Scripture and teach the gospel did not make Paul or any apostles perfect in all knowledge. He was not going to die when he went to Jerusalem and would interact with the Ephesians again).
As Paul considered his future and likely death at the hands of the cross’s enemies, he made a startling statement.
"I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:22-24 ESV).
What an amazing statement. And how different from what we often hear people say? Paul is saying that what the Holy Spirit is instructing him may well end in his death. I can’t tell you the number of times I hear people say, “Well, God can’t mean that. That would mean death.” In fact, sometimes they make a similar statement, but when the stakes aren’t even that high. “God can’t mean that. That would mean we will suffer tremendously.”
Paul shows that following God may, in fact, lead to tremendous suffering and death. Paul said, “My life is not more precious to me than the gospel of God’s grace and its proclamation.” And I have to ask myself how I account my life. Do I value it more than the gospel? Do I account it as more precious than preaching the gospel? Would I be willing to sacrifice the fullness of the gospel to preserve my life or even just my leisure?
Of course, we must not misunderstand. Paul was not saying life is of no value to him. Nor was he saying life is not precious. Rather, he was saying the opportunity to proclaim and testify to the gospel is more precious. If preaching the gospel meant sacrificing His life for Jesus, who had not counted His life more precious than our salvation, then he would willingly give up his life.
I want to say the same thing. I’m not sure I’m there yet. I ask God to grow me to this same kind of faith and surrender. May we all count God’s gospel more precious than our lives.
