Bible Verse of the Day Friday August 26th , 2022

Philippians 1:15-16 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.

The only true motive there should be for preaching the Gospel of Christ Jesus is out of Love. However, as sad as it seems, some, as Paul reminds us here, preach for the wrong reasons or motives. Envy, greed, rivalry, or competitiveness can creep into the lives of anyone at any time because of the influence of Satan and completely change the course of a well-meaning benevolent teacher of the gospel. Godly motivation is crucial because if we find ourselves driven by false motivation, it will alter and warp what would have been a well-intentioned message of Christ Jesus. 

Envy is a perception of dissatisfaction or discontentment in oneself because of seeing the success of another. For example, some people today judge the success of a ministry by how full or empty the pews are, and the reflection cast itself on the church's leaders. However, there is nothing wrong with a fully packed church on Sunday morning. Envy is not only the craving and yearning to have what one sees that another has. It can also be one trying to deprive another of success. For example, if a church in town is enjoying significant and substantial growth in church attendance, some might say, "the only thing they are concerned with is how many are in church." 

Envy will always attempt to tear down and diminish the person that God is blessing. Goodwill is having peace with God and peace with those around us, while envy is being at war and enmity with God and the rest of the world.

 A "goodwill" means a kindness of commitment and devotion, not bringing forth a twisted sense of ill will. Paul tells us in Romans 12:2 that if we do not conform to the precedents of this world, we will be able to determine what God's good, pleasing and perfect will is for our lives.  It is God's will for our lives and not our own will that we should seek. Left to ourselves, we could not help but merge away from God; it is only through Christ Jesus that we can be one with God and understand His perfect will, which can only be goodwill (Romans 12:2). Goodwill produces a heart at peace with God, self, and others; envy, on the other hand, is hazardous to physical and spiritual health (Proverbs 14:30).