Sermon for October 21, 2007

I recall a news story from this summer. A man found what he thought was an abandoned seal pup on the shore. After waiting for a few hours he "rescued" the pup and got in trouble for it. He had good intentions but the law requires the pup be left on the beach in case mom is just waiting nearby and will return after a while. He did the right thing, in his eyes, but…

On the other side of the coin is when we do the right thing for the wrong reasons. Let me give a couple of examples of what I mean. Have you ever given money to a charitable organization for the tax deduction? Now there is nothing wrong in this, our laws allow it. But would you have given if you did not get the tax deduction? Or, have you given a few coins to a beggar just to stop them from following or pestering you on the street? Good things done for the wrong reasons.

Paul is in prison/house arrest. His mobility is greatly restricted and there has been no firm/final judgment in his case. His imprisonment brings out the best and the worst in others. There are those, who because of Paul's imprisonment and his "joy" are finding their own tongues and proclaiming Christ even among the palace guards. Paul says, "Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly" (1:14). Paul has set an example and it is giving those who know Paul a boldness to continue the witness of Christ.

There are others, however, who are proclaiming Christ with a different motive. Now that Paul is out of the limelight they hope to bring the limelight on themselves. (And the church is just forming and we have those who seek personal gain!) Or, they are hoping that their proclamation brings more misery to Paul. They may even be hoping that their proclamation hastens Paul's death. One could say, "With friends like this who needs enemies?" They are doing the right thing for all the wrong reasons.

Paul's response is not the response they expected. Paul is rejoicing because Christ is being preached. It does not matter what the intentions of those who are preaching the Gospel are; the result is that the good news of the Gospel of Christ is being preached. People are hearing the good news, lives are being changed, this is a time for joy. It does not matter the motive behind the proclamation – the word is being preached!

Loren Noren was an American Baptist missionary in Hong Kong in the 1970's. I remember him telling a story of what was happening in Communist China. This was still in the day when the Church in China was being persecuted and Bibles were still outlawed. Loren wrote that there was a paper shortage in China and they were running out of paper to wrap fish and vegetables from the market in. Some Communist official remembered the storehouses of confiscated Bibles they had. His solution was to take the Bibles, tear them up and give them to the market vendors to wrap the fish, etc. in. Suddenly the people of China had the Bible to read. Little did he realize what a boon this was to the Chinese Christians. Not only did the Bible again come to the hands of the people but also there were increased fish sales. The right thing was being done for the wrong reasons.

But Paul, someone asks, what if this hastens your death? What if the emperor hears of what is happening and decides to kill you? This is a legitimate concern. However Paul does not see it as a concern. It really doesn't matter. To die is to be with Christ and to live is to continue to proclaim the good news. Either way Paul wins. In fact, he is torn between the two: to die and be with Christ or to live and keep proclaiming the Gospel. Both will bring joy to Paul. Whatever happens will be fine with him. God is in the midst of either one and each brings a different type of joy. Whatever the outcome Paul is confident that God will be praised and that for him is joy. Right or wrong motives, Christ is being preached and the outcome is in Paul's favor.

As I have been reading this passage I have been asking myself, what does this mean to us today? For me, it means that good can come from even the darkest of circumstances. Do you remember the story of Joseph—the brat Joseph? Joseph was “daddy's boy” and he did not let his brothers forget that he was the family favorite, even flaunting the coat his father gave him. He was such a “brat” that his brothers wanted to kill him and it was only at the intervention of his brother Reuben that he was not killed. Joseph was sold into slavery (might as well make some money off the brat) and Joseph spent a good deal of time in an Egyptian prison. Then through a series of dream interpretations he rises to second in command of all Egypt. He is able to save his whole family from the famine in Egypt and the surrounding lands as a result of his position. After the death of their father his brothers become concerned about their future but Joseph assures them that God has used their deed for good. “But Joseph said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children’” (Gen 50:19-20). God has taken that which was intended for bad and turned it into good. They had sold Joseph for all the wrong reasons but God had used it to save their lives and the lives of their families.

Or, do you remember the words of the high priest as they are discussing what to do with this man Jesus. They are worried his preaching might bring Rome down on them and they are seeking justification for what they about to do. The high priest speaks, “You know nothing at all. You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than the whole nation perish” (John 11:50). Right words but with the wrong motive. If he only knew the real truth behind the words he was speaking.

What is the motive behind a person's actions? Paul says it doesn't matter. So what if they want to get a tax break for feeding the hungry—the hungry are being fed. So what if they want to bring hardship on me and thus proclaim the Gospel—the Gospel is being proclaimed. Lives are being changed, the hungry are being fed, the naked are being clothed, God is being praised…. who cares about the motive? God can work through all things.

I was the co-chair of a major fund drive back east to build a new retreat building at our conference center. There were some on the committee who wanted a “pure” campaign. We would raise money for the project without memorial gifts, plaques and rooms named after churches or people. This would be a building built with “pure” motives. However, it was growing evident that people were not pledging. The money was not coming in. We contacted a professional fundraiser who met with us to give us some direction. He simply advised, what does it matter if someone's name is on the door or a memorial plaque is placed here or there? Do you want a retreat center? We decided to allow room dedications, memorials, etc. and the conference center now stands ministering to thousands each year. As Paul would say, “What does it matter if people gave for the wrong reasons – praise God at what is being done.”

Do we focus too much on the motive behind what people do? He or she is only doing that because _____. We are a suspicious people; we look for the motive behind people's actions. How many of you wives would be suspicious today if you got flowers from your husband? Would you wonder what they had done that made them send you flowers? We have a friend who in twenty-five years of marriage has never received flowers from her husband. Do you imagine she might be suspicious should he send her flowers today? You bet!

Paul is reminding us that God can use even the wrong motives for good. It should bring us joy that Christ is being proclaimed, hungry are being fed, homeless are being housed. Let's let God worry about the motive behind the action of the giver. That is not our job.

Do you wonder why Paul even wrote this? Were people questioning the motives of those Paul is talking about? Were they hoping to provoke Paul to anger or a denouncing of their work and ministry? Paul refuses to be drawn into the games we play. His only reaction is JOY that the word is being proclaimed and Christ is being preached. It is a time of joy and celebration regardless of the motive behind their deeds. In fact, he sums it up for then and now with the next sentence: “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27).


First Baptist Church 22800 56th Ave. W. Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043-3922	(425) 778-2046 firstbap@FirstBaptist-MtlkTerr.org	©2004-2007 Last Modified 24 October 2007	Home Page