Not All Desires Are Bad (Philippians 1:23)

For many different reasons, we can say that not all desires are bad: a person who desires to be a congregation overseer or elder for the right reasons/motives is said to be desirous of a fine work (1 Timothy 3:1); God promises to satisfy the desire of every living thing (Psalm 145:16), and it is completely fine for someone to desire eternal/everlasting life on a paradise earth (Psalm 37:29). But what about those who have the heavenly hope? Should they desire to be with their heavenly bridegroom?

The inspired apostle Paul writes: συνέχομαι δὲ ἐκ τῶν δύο, τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν ἔχων εἰς τὸ ἀναλῦσαι καὶ σὺν Χριστῷ εἶναι, πολλῷ γὰρ μᾶλλον κρεῖσσον

See the post here for some of my previous thoughts on Philippians 1:23: https://fosterheologicalreflections.blogspot.com/2015/09/philippians-123ff-i-am-torn-between-two.html

Paul wanted to remain with the early Christians in order to upbuild and encourage them, to help them make spiritual progress. However, he said that the desire to be with Christ was exerting pressure on him. As Paul stated matters, to be with Christ is far better than being on earth, even among one's friends. Yet the apostle was confident that he would remain on earth to benefit the Philippians and others.

Another lesson we can take from this verse is that not all desires are wrong. While it's prudent and godly to repudiate worldly desire (Titus 2:12; 1 Peter 4:2-3), there is nothing wrong with pursuing spiritual desires mutandis mutatis. Quite frankly, not even all "mundane" desires have to be bad. If someone desires marriage to a godly partner and the desire is guided by Bible principles, it's not wrong. Paul made this point clear in 1 Corinthians 7:36-38.

There are obvious considerations to make before getting married, but the point is that desires in se are not necessarily wrong: some are actually righteous, proper, and noble.