Daily Thoughts from Philippians (6): What Is Your Agenda? – Philippians 1:15-18

When George Washington became the first president of the United States he chose Thomas Jefferson as his secretary of state.  But Jefferson did not agree with Washington’s desire for a strong federal government.  While acting as Washington’s cabinet member he was at the same time financing a newspaper that was promoting just the opposite of Washington’s views and even slandering Washington at every opportunity.  Washington and Jefferson only seemed to be on the same team but were actually rivals.

Paul addresses this matter of rivalry with the Philippians.

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 selfish ambition, 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 1:15–18, ESV)

Paul is relating an experience he is having in Rome that the Philippians are not aware of but that mirrors their experience in some way.  They would have a hard time understanding why anyone would want to afflict Paul in his imprisonment, why anyone would want to make it even harder for him.  Paul does not explain why or how the preaching of Christ in the city of Rome could be used to hurt him.  Obviously these individuals have some disagreement with Paul, but it must not be a disagreement over the content of the gospel or Paul would not be rejoicing at their preaching (Galatians 1:8).

Suffice it to say that this anti-Paul group among the believers in Rome has a personal agenda that is not in line with the gospel agenda.  This is why Paul dubs it “selfish ambition” and lack of “sincerity.”  Their heart of hearts is not to rejoice in the preaching of the gospel that they and Paul share but to use it as a club against Paul.  We can hear them saying, “We will get converts that we will be able to steer clear of Paul’s way of thinking.”  It is tempting to think that these were Jewish believers who felt that Paul was too lax with regard to how Gentile believers treated Jewish practices, but we really don’t know.

How this reflects on the Philippians, however, is much clearer.  One group in that church believes they are acting in love for Paul by sending him their offering to help him meet his expenses and hopefully get him out of confinement.  The other believes they are loving their own community by making sure they have what they need financially to survive.  Those sending the money are thinking to “afflict” the other group with guilt for being unwilling to rescue Paul and the gospel.  But that is a selfish agenda, a selfish ambition, even as it is a selfish agenda for the group that doesn’t want to send Paul money but rather feels it necessary to take care of themselves first.

In Rome, Paul finds joy in the proclamation of the gospel, regardless of motive, because the preaching of the gospel is of the highest Christian agenda.  Believers ought to put aside their personal agendas for this one.  Persecution cannot destroy the church or hinder the gospel, but disunity among believers can.  The love that each faction in Philippi is appealing to must be made to abound in knowledge and discernment (1:9).  They must see their oneness in proclaiming Christ as the most excellent pursuit and give up their selfish ambitions.

It may seem strange to us that helping Paul could be a selfish ambition.  But in so far as it is willing to sacrifice unity with those who don’t want to help him it makes its true agenda apparent.  That group wanted to be right more than they wanted to keep the unity of the Spirit.

What do you want more than the progress of the gospel?  What matters more to you than the fellowship of the Holy Spirit remaining strong?  That is your selfish ambition, that is your personal agenda that rests in conflict with what your priority agenda should be.  No matter how good your motives sound, they are unsound and inferior to the only motive that brings real joy, the desire to see Christ proclaimed.

Discussion Questions for Small Groups

1. If you could swap roles with someone for a day, who would you choose to swap with and why?
2. Would you follow a different agenda than the person you swapped with?
3. When Paul shares this account of what is happening to him in Rome, what do you think he wants the Philippians to get from it?
4. Why do you think Paul believes that disunity among believers is more threatening to the cause of the gospel than persecution?
5. What disunity are you experiencing in your own local church?
6. What would God have you do to promote unity behind the progress of the gospel in your local church?