Circumstances

As we read the Bible, it can be easy to forget that there were people involved. It can feel like we’re opening up a confusing, sometimes mysterious, holy book, and we forget that there were real people involved.

Philippians was a letter written by Paul. For us, Paul has become a sort of larger-than-life missionary that we attribute most of the New Testament to. We have to remember that Paul was just a man. He was a kid once. He experienced a lot of the same things we do. He wrote Philippians in the midst of some interesting circumstances.

Paul wrote this letter from prison.

Now, if it were me, I think I know how this letter would go. There would probably be something in there about smuggling me a metal file in a cake. Or just smuggling me a cake. My letter would pretty much probably have one topic only: how do we get me out of here?!

But that’s not really what Paul talks about.

“I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of rivalry, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice" (Philippians 1:12-18).

That is very different than my letter would be. Paul’s perspective here is not about his own comfort, his own freedom, it’s not really about him at all. He was captivated by seeing the story of Jesus move forward. The spread of the Gospel was so exciting to Paul that he’s able to look past this difficult circumstance in his life.

One thing is easy to forget: Paul was a ‘bigwig’ among the preachers at this point in history. He was important. For him to be in prison was a big deal. It's like losing your star running back the day of the game. It had an effect on the world. Other Christians wondered if they would be next.

I don’t think Paul was being arrogant, but he realized that his arrest also had an effect on the way the Gospel was being preached. He points out two different ways this is happening:

1. People were preaching with more boldness. Other preachers were able to see Paul imprisoned, and they kept preaching for him. They were determined to not let the message of the Gospel die out because Paul was in jail.
    
2. People were preaching out of rivalry. This is fascinating. There were people preaching the Gospel out of rivalry - they were jealous of who Paul was, his position, and his influence. Because he was in jail, they saw their opportunity to snatch up some of his followers. They went to preach and speak out while Paul was away, hoping to gain notoriety. They wanted people to see them, so they started talking about Jesus. The story of Jesus was spreading like wildfire at this point - and they wanted to take advantage of that.

Can you imagine how discouraging that would be? While you’re in jail for following God and doing what He’s called you to do, there were people preaching for their own gain! They’re getting rich off your misfortune - and all you’ve tried to do is follow God!

But Paul, it seems, doesn’t really care how this affects him, he’s only concerned with how this was affecting the spread of the story of Jesus. He does not care that these people are trying to capitalize on his imprisonment - he’s just excited that they're preaching Jesus! That’s crazy. That perspective is…off, it seems. How did Paul have this perspective? If it were me, it would burn me up.

For Paul, the Gospel is bigger than his circumstances. He would rather things go well for the Gospel than for himself.

Let’s talk about us. Paul was in prison. What’s your thing? What are you experiencing that you wish would end quickly? We all experience circumstances that we wish would just end quickly. How do we respond to those things?

Jesus has to be enough for us. He is enough. He was enough for Paul; He’s enough for us. In every circumstance, Jesus is enough. That’s true.

Regardless of our circumstances, we are blessed people. God has given us great things! But neither our blessings nor our circumstances are what convince us that God loves us.

We know that God loves us because of the cross.

That's the moment that shows us what love really is: God laying down his life for us. Every circumstance is an opportunity for the Gospel to spread. People can see the love of Jesus in us as we follow Christ, no matter what happens.