By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo
Philippians 1:15-18 “It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 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. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice.”
Paul was in prison because of the gospel of Christ. This stired up some more preachers, some out of good will to genuinely propagate the gospel. Others who hated Paul used it as an opportunity to promote their selfish ambitions and to add more sorrow to him in prison. To both approaches, Paul was grateful that Christ was preached all the same.
The gospel is always good news about Jesus saving the lost and giving man a living hope in God. The insincere and selfish preacher uses the gospel and the pulpit to settle personal scores, promote selfish ambitions, fight others as it happened in Paul’s day. This is unfortunate and yet real. So much of what goes as preaching the gospel has behind it competition with others, rebellion and breakaways, fighting for fame and supremacy or making names and building territories. These are wrong attitudes.
The key to the right attitude to preaching Christ is love. Whatever is outside a genuine concern to see people turn to God and experience His goodness is a wrong attitude. Paul said God’s love compels him to preach. He taught that without love, all our efforts and activities are worthless. May God help us make love the only reason to minister to others whatever the circumstances.
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”
Shalom children of God