Philippians 1:18 | Pastor Burns' Study Notes

This is one of the most striking statements in the passage. Paul does not excuse wrong motives, but neither does he let them rob him of joy. His great concern is this: Christ is preached.

Whether some preached in pretence or others in truth, the name of Jesus was being sounded out. The Gospel was moving forward. Souls were hearing of Christ. And Paul rejoiced in that.

This reveals the largeness of Paul’s heart. He was not petty. He was not self-protective. He was not consumed with personal insult. He could look beyond the meanness of men and still rejoice that Christ was being proclaimed.

There is a lesson here for every servant of God. If we are not careful, we can become more burdened by who gets credit than by whether Christ is exalted. Paul had settled something in his heart: if Jesus is being preached, then I will rejoice.

That is not weakness. That is maturity. That is a man so captured by the glory of Christ that personal injury cannot move him off center.