Not regarding his life

because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me. – Philippians 2.30

Life is precious. It is something most of us don't want to part with. I watched a special on euthanasia a few months ago. One of the stories was about a woman who thought that she knew for sure that she would opt for 'assisted death' and even went so far to travel to a place where she could get it done, she made contact with the right people, but at the end she couldn't do it. She felt like as long as she was alive there was hope.

That is only natural. Very few people really want to die when it comes right down to it.

But there are many times when God's people are called to give up their lives for the cause of Christ. Stephen was the first martyr in the early days of the church. Peter was martyred. Paul died in his service for Christ. Countless saints through the centuries have gone to their death for the gospel. Even today in the more forgotten parts of the world believers are dying in Jesus' name.

Epaphroditus seems to be a guy like that. He really didn't care much about what happened to him as long as the Philippians were lacking. He was willing to risk his health and even his life because he didn't regard his life as important.

Life isn’t cheap. It is a precious gift from God. While we have it we ought to take care of it and maintain it for God’s glory. But it is nothing to be  regarded when compared to what Christ did for us.