Maybe you’ve heard it said, “it’s not about you.” That was never more true than with Jesus, who was the Son, but came “not to be served but to serve” (Matt. 20:28). Paul, a genuine follower of Jesus, also demonstrated a servant’s heart, willing to accept with joy and contentment practically any hardship if it brought others to Christ. He talks about this in Philippians 1.
Willing to Suffer (1:12-13)
Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else…
Yes, Paul was in Roman custody. I’m sure he preferred freedom. But when he thought about all the people who would never have heard the gospel had he not been unjustly treated, he rejoiced. Ironically, the guards were a captive audience for Paul!
If your getting cancer was the only way your child finally confessed Christ, would you rejoice? If your getting storm-tossed and shipwrecked was the only way the people of Malta would hear the gospel, would you be willing? If your getting fired was the only way you found yourself a useful evangelist, would you accept the pink slip with a smile? We must learn the value of an eternal soul.
Willing to Get No Credit (1:14-18)
…and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear. Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christout of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice.
How could a preacher preach selfishly, thinking to upset Paul? My guess is that men poured into the vacuum left by Paul’s imprisonment, some to continue the work he started, but some to steal the limelight. What, you think preachers are above professional jealousy? Hah! We want people to know we came up with that outline first! We want our blog to have more followers! We want the last guy to know how many more people are sitting in the pews now!
Paul didn’t care to get credit. He was willing for someone else to gloat (though, that preacher’s motives might be endangering his own soul) as long as the true gospel of Jesus was being spread. Paul would wait for praise to come from God (1 Cor. 4:5).
Willing to Die (1:19-21)
Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Like Daniel’s friends (Dan. 3:16-18), Paul was willing to glorify God either as an example of God’s power to deliver, or as an example of one submissive unto death. Listen to this prayer, in a book by Ole Hallesby:
Lord, if it will be to Your glory, heal now.
If it will glorify You more, heal gradually.
If it will glorify You even more, may your servant remain sick.
If it will glorify Your name still more, take him to Yourself in Heaven.
By life or by death, Paul wanted God to be exalted. Are we such willing followers?
–John Guzzetta