Right Reasons – November 21, 2007

Recently, I was exposed to a person who, in my opinion, is in the ministry for the wrong reason!  Now that shouldn’t be a shock because of all the frauds on televisions, but this blew me out of the water!  This was a person to which I had given a lot of trust.  Their ministry is strong and well known; many come to know Christ through their efforts.  But their Christian ethics are very low. 
I didn’t know what to do or say – so I went to the scriptures for counsel. Coming to Philippians 1, I believe I found God’s answer to dealing with people who are not very ethical yet they are Christians and seem to be doing a work for God.
Philippians 1:12-18
12  But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto
      the furtherance of the gospel;
13  So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;
14  And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word
      without fear.
In verses 12-14, Paul tells us the things which happened unto him were for the furtherance of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Also, what Paul was going through would strengthen the brethren.  Our mindset must be the same!  Whatever is happening to you is for the furtherance of the gospel!  Trial, tribulation, heartache, whatever the case may be Christ is using you to do His work!  Romans 8:28 tells Christians this is true!  “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Then we come verses 15-17, which tells us the kinds of ministers there are in the ministry today.  Here they are:  Some preach envy and strife, some of good will, some preach contention and not sincerely hoping to add problems to other people’s lives, and then there are those who preach in love.  Read the verses for yourself:
            15  Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
            16  The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
            17  But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.

There are people in the ministry today who are who have the wrong motives!  But there are great people who are glorifying Christ also!  But what should we do about those who are unethical?Paul tells us what to do about it in verse 18: He tells us to rejoice and keep rejoicing because Christ is being preached!
18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

We need to totally put our trust in Christ!  He is the author and finisher of our faith.  Some day He will deal with the unethical among us but until then I know we need to make sure that our own personal motives are pure! 

Paul tells us what to do about it in verse 18: to rejoice and keep rejoicing because Christ is being preached!

(18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.)