PURE MOTIVES IN PREACHING THE GOSPEL

Philippians 1:15-19 says, "It's true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News. Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. But that doesn't matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice. For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance." Because of Paul's imprisonment, many believers were inspired to continue preaching the gospel. However, there were two groups of people who were preaching the gospel: the ones who preached the gospel with wrong motives and the ones who had pure motives. Those who preached the gospel with wrong motives, they preached the gospel with jealousy, rivalry, and selfish ambition. The problem with their preaching was not their message of the gospel, but it was their heart, which could cause problems with Paul. However, there were those who had pure motives of preaching the gospel for the sole purpose of defending and leading the lost to believe in the Lord Jesus, which represented Paul's motivation in preaching the gospel. Either way, Paul rejoiced in regard to these two groups because the gospel was being preached. It was not about him, but the gospel being preached.

We need to be aware of those people who preach the gospel out of selfish ambition. If anyone who preaches the gospel with wrong motives, we need to stay away from them because they are about advancing their agenda instead of God's agenda. They may know the gospel and be very good at preaching and teaching the Word of God, but they are all about trying to lift themselves to gain popularity, influence, power, or wealth. But to those who preach the gospel with pure motives, they are all about the welfare of the congregations. Their purpose of preaching is to help others to know and get closer to God. It is not about themselves, but it is about God and the people that God called them to serve. One of the ways for us to know if we are in a good church is that the preacher is centered in the message of the gospel and cares about the spiritual growth of the people.  

Let us not be deceived by the demonstrations of the spiritual gifts of the preachers, but let us discern their motives. If they are full of themselves, let us pray that the Spirit of God continues to change their hearts, but if they are not changing, we need to find another church where we can grow spiritually. Anyone who preaches and teaches the Word of God must have a pure motive before God and others. 

Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) What is the right motive for preaching the gospel? Why is it important to have the right motive in preaching the gospel? Is the one who preaches the Word of God in the church that I am going to has a pure motive? 

Take a moment to write down all your worries today. Then, lift them to God in prayer, surrendering them to His will and trusting in His guidance.

Prayer:

Dear Father in Heaven, thank you to those who faithfully preach your Word weekly with a pure motive. I pray for my pastor that you will continue to bless him and guard his heart from wrong motives in preaching and teaching your Word. I pray to those who serve in the church that I go to that you will continue to work in their hearts to have pure motives in serving you. I also pray this prayer for myself that I will always have a pure motive in serving you. It is not about me, but it is all about you and others. In your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.