Change Your Scorecard
by Fred Neal
Philippians 1:12-13
"Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually advanced the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is because I am in Christ."
I’ve recently been preaching through Philippians and I really love Paul’s perspective on the things that he is experiencing. He is currently imprisoned for his service to Christ and has been that as an opportunity to send out some letters to some of the churches he has relationships with.
In 1:12, Paul states: “Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually advanced the gospel”. He then details the ways in which the gospel is advancing.
What encouraged me the most about this passage was seeing how Paul measured success in his life: by how much the gospel was advancing through his present circumstances.
I thought about all of the ways that we measure success in our lives today… our position at work, our financial status, the vacations we take, our kids’ success in school or at sports, how happy we feel, etc., etc., etc.
But how often do we measure our success by the ways that we can see the cancer advancing through our lives?
By that scorecard, we may have many of the things listed above only to realize that all of our so-called successes are quite temporary. But perhaps, the times when we are most successful (by the standard of this gospel scorecard) aren’t actually the times when the world thinks we are successful.
Paul is in prison (not something that our world thinks is much of an achievement) and has noticed several ways in which the gospel is advancing: vs 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is because I am in Christ. vs 14 Most of the brothers have gained confidence in the Lord from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the word fearlessly.
Many new (and previously unreachable) people are hearing the gospel as a result of Paul’s imprisonment. AND the brothers who are seeing this happen are becoming even more confident to preach the word!
If you were to hear that through YOU, many new people are hearing the gospel and that because of how you are living your life, many Christians are being greatly encouraged to live more boldly for Christ, would you consider that success???
What if you just so happened to be imprisoned unjustly while all of that was being accomplished? Would it still be success then in your mind?
I know that if you told me that my ministry was having that effect, I would be pretty excited. So why don’t we change our scorecards? Why don’t we strive to look for the kingdom fruit that is growing through our circumstances ins head of measuring success by the same standards that the world uses?
Paul mentions three unexpected ways that the gospel is advancing in Philippians 1:12-20.
The gospel is advancing through his TRIALS.
vs 12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually advanced the gospel, vs 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that my imprisonments is because I am in Christ. vs 14 Most of the brothers have gained confidence in the Lord from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the word fearlessly.
The gospel is advancing through his OPPONENTS.
vs 15 To be sure, some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of good will. vs 16 These preach out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; vs 17 the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, thinking that they will cause me trouble in my imprisonment. vs 18 What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice.
The gospel will advance even if he DIES.
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, vs 19 because I know this will lead to my salvation through your prayers and help from the Spirit of Jesus Christ. vs 20 My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all courage, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life or death.
If you are having a hard time thinking of a difficulty that doesn’t fall within those three categories, welcome to the club! Paul’s experience and confidence was that God can use any and every thing we go though in life to advance the gospel. That means we can be “successful” in any season of life if we are bing faithful to Christ and using the right scorecard.
Next time you find yourself experiencing something you would rather not be going through, look for the ways in which God is working through those circumstances to advance the gospel. And remember that Paul considered imprisonment, strife with his enemies, and even death as opportunities for the gospel to advance!
Or as Joni Eareckson Tada once said, “Sometimes God allows what he hates to accomplish what he loves.”