Philippians 1:15-18 NLT
[15] “It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. [16] They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News. [17] Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. [18] But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice.”

Paul was delighted that others joined him in preaching the gospel because they loved him and wanted to enhance his ministry during his imprisonment. However, he was not oblivious to the fact that he had enemies, even among so-called believers.

Who were these who preached Christ with an ulterior motive? Paul does not say. Perhaps some were Jewish “believers” who opposed him because he did not uphold obedience to the law. These Judaisers were hindering his ministry by trying to convince new Gentile believers to be circumcised. They taught that Gentiles should become Jews first before they could believe in Jesus. The enmity of Jews against Gentiles was filtering into the very gospel of Jesus.

Perhaps they preached the gospel with tongue in cheek, hoping to make more trouble for him among the Jewish community.

Paul vehemently opposed this false teaching. He understood that Jesus and His work on the cross cancelled every obligation to keep the law. Jesus fulfilled the law perfectly for every person on earth and gave His life as punishment for all who broke the law. In effect, the Old Covenant law, with all its requirements, was obsolete. Why, then, were Gentiles to submit to the circumcision ritual that was not a requirement for salvation?

Other believers were seemingly jealous of Paul’s authority and influence in the churches he had founded. They wanted a piece of the pie, so they preached Jesus to win converts for themselves.

Paul was not concerned about motives. The gospel, so he had discovered, was God’s powerful tool for saving sinners.

Romans 1:16 NLT
[16] “For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.”

For whatever reason Christ was preached, it was the message that aroused faith in those who heard it.

Romans 10:17 NLT
[17] “So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.”

Thise who preached Jesus from impure motives had also inadvertently become partners with Paul! This made him very happy! Teamwork, partnership was all that mattered. He was not alone in this arduous task of taking the gospel to the Gentiles.

Everyone who participated with him extended his ministry beyond himself into the places he could not reach. Everyone who shared his hardships in fulfilling his ministry partnered with him in the suffering he experienced through his obedience. Everyone who prayed for him and his ministry shared in the rewards of his labours. Everyone who gave generously towards his needs played a significant part in helping him to harness his time to fulfill his calling.

All-in-all, Paul was happy to receive all the help he could get.

What about us? What will it take to convince us to stop being spectators in this “game” of life. We have been delivered from darkness. Paul said that we are “light in the Lord”.

Ephesians 5:8 NIV
[8] “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.”

Children of light are the offspring of God who is the source of all light and enlightenment. To live as children of light implies participation in every aspect of the kingdom of light.

Colossians 1:12-13 NLT
[12]”…He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. [13] For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son…”

We are neither spectators nor passengers in the spread of the gospel. We are a team, fitting into its function in whatever way the Holy Spirit has called and gifted us. A team is an entity, functioning as one in cooperation and collaboration with one another. There are no loners in a team.

So, let’s get back to the Bible’s pattern for the church. Let’s partner with God, the Holy Spirit, and our leader/leaders to make this team as effective as it can be.