I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Philippians 1-4.

Paul writes how some people are preaching the Gospel because they are jealous of the honor Paul is receiving and wish to gain the same for themselves, or to gain wealth for themselves.  Paul’s response is that he does not care why people preach the Gospel, as long as the Gospel is being preached.   I remember years ago my denomination had an auto insurance program whereby those who were part of the Church could get a steep discount on auto insurance, but you had to attend Church regularly.  Someone I know made the comment that it was worth going to Church every Sunday for that discount.  Their mother-in-law told them that was the wrong reason to go to Church.  That is absolutely true, but someone else expressed what I believe Paul is saying here.  “I don’t care why he goes to Church.  I have faith that the Word of God can transform him.  Hearing the Word of God regularly will change his life.”  The man never did start going to Church and his life was not transformed, but I do not think his mother-in-law’s comments had anything to do with that.  I will echo what my friend said:

I do not care about the motives that lead someone to preach the Gospel and I do not care what motives lead someone to listen, I just want everyone to hear the message because I believe it has the power to transform, even those who do not wish to be transformed.

Paul goes on to express his attitude towards death, an attitude which we will share if we fully share his faith.  Paul writes that he is torn because it would be better for him if he died and went on to experience his resurrected body, but then he would no longer be able to serve Christ by serving others.  He was not just not afraid of dying but was looking forward to it.  However, he was unwilling to hasten its arrival because serving the Lord gave him joy.  As long as we live we should seek how we can serve and glorify God, but we should eagerly anticipate when he brings us home to be with Him.

Paul goes on to write that he seeks to know and emulate Christ. to become perfected as Christ was perfect.  However, he also makes it clear that he is not yet perfect and does not expect to be perfect until God rewards him with the heavenly prize.   It is easy to miss Paul’s point here.  Which is that, while embracing sinful behavior is evidence that someone is not saved,  striving   to do what is right does not make us better than those people.  All of this brings me to something I have come to realize about the heart of Paul’s message: when we sin we harm ourselves as much, or more, than we harm others.  If we love someone, we will point out when they are doing things which will harm them.