Philippians 1:12-20 (NIV) 12Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. 13As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.
15It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18But 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, 19for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. 20I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
What is it that gets you up and going in the morning and motivates you during the day? Is it the need of money to survive? Because you want to be successful? Do you get up and get to it out of a sense of duty?
Paul knew his basic motivation. I call it his “soul concern.” Paul’s soul concern was for people to hear his life-changing message. Because that was his soul concern he was able to live above his circumstances, not under them. Paul’s soul concern took the attention off himself so he could see that his imprisonment did not spell his defeat or his failure, for the gospel was still heard.
Many of us have known the life changing relationship to God offered in Jesus Christ but we become so obsessed with the daily demands of life that we lose touch. We become so sunk in the everydayness of life that we lose sight of God’s wish and God’s dream for our life. There are problems at work, conflict at home, money problems we didn’t expect. Our awareness of the good news of the gospel fades from our heart and mind.
Like Sleeping Beauty, we have fallen under a spell that renders us unconscious to the love and care God has for us. We need that kiss from God that will awaken us. We get lost in the demands and difficulties of life and are not even aware of what has happened to us. But, others who love us can see what has happened. They pray for us and God honors those prayers. Sometimes the prayers are God’s Word spoken to us. The prayers of other people can give us back our soul concern.
The good news is not simply a message about God. The good news is a message that establishes that loving, life-changing relationship to God in the same way that a marriage proposal not only tells what a person is feeling but brings a change to life. But, we may be feeling too pressured in life to listen, too busy to pay attention to the Spirit of God, too filled with self congratulations to care, but none of that cuts us off for good from the good news of Jesus Christ.
The good news is that we can recover the good news. That life changing relationship to God can become more important than the demands and difficulties of our life. We can gain healthy detachment. We can live over our circumstances and not under them.
What is it that gets you up and going each day? What is the main motivation of your daily life? What is your soul concern?
From a sermon preached by Henry Dobbs Pope August 16, 1998
© Rhonda Hinkle Mitchell Broyles
So happy that you are expressing in words what so many of us wonder about, fret about, don't take time to pray about. You are a very special child of God and I am honored to be your aunt.
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