Motives

DEVOTION

THE LETTER TO THE PHILIPPIANS

MOTIVES

Phil 1:15-18

15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.   18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

NIV

From a contextual and historical perspective, we understand these preachers who declared the gospel out of envy and rivalry were those who are called the Judaizing teachers. These were the men who were not opposed to Jesus as the Messiah, but rather opposed to the doctrine Paul was preaching against the need of circumcision. The others whom he mentioned also preached the gospel, Jesus as the Messiah, but also held true the same doctrine as Paul regarding circumcision. This concept of preaching because of selfish ambition and stirring up trouble for another preacher of the gospel seems to not have been restricted to this historical period. What these men were actually doing was taking advantage of Paul being in chains, in prison, claiming his doctrines are what caused his downfall and the believers in Philippi need to see that circumcision is the right way to follow. They wanted the people to leave the teaching of Paul and follow their teaching. We see that happening all throughout history and it still is a practice today. This is not over circumcision but over various other doctrinal issues. Some of these who preach Christ out of selfish ambition actually twist the scriptures in order to gain large amounts of followers who will support them and their lavish lifestyle. Some would say Paul is saying that is alright as long as they are proclaiming Jesus. In some sense that is true. As long as Jesus is preached, whether from whatever denominational bias, Jesus is still at the core of their belief and people are being saved from their darkened lives. However, Paul was greatly opposed to having to live under the law in order to live as a believer. That is we are saved by grace and nothing else, no kind of law, or works are involved whatsoever, such as those who taught circumcision in that day. That was Jesus plus circumcision, or Jesus plus the law. However, they still preached Jesus. Today, we have to discern whether some of those who preach out of selfish ambition actually preach Jesus. We also have to consider if what we say is from a selfish attitude. In other words, are we doing anything to promote Jesus and making ourselves look good in the process? Are our motives true or false? Why are we preaching Jesus? Is it out of the love for him, and for those who still live in darkness? Are we preaching Jesus out of love to those who have accepted him as Savior, or out of some self-serving purpose? What we think the difference may be is as in the case of Paul, he was most certainly called by God to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. Those who taught Judaizing doctrine may not have been called by God, but by self. Today, the same applies. Those who are called by God will preach Jesus out of love, those who have called themselves will preach out of selfish ambition. Does the motive matter? Only God will judge that.