Gospel Advancement

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, (Philippians 1:12 ESV)

What is our chief concern in life? What is most important to us? What is our reason for being here?

For the Christian, the answer to these questions is not that difficult. One famous Christian document (the Westminster Shorter Catechism) asked and answered that question in this way:

Q. What is the chief end of man?

The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.

We have already noted in this epistle two things that are important to our discussion about the correct answers to these questions. One is that Paul has already expressed thanksgiving that the saints at Philippi (and we) are members of the Fellowship of the Gospel. Whatever else we are in life, this is our most important distinction. The second is when he prays for them to be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ. He does so, as he explicitly states, for 'the glory and praise of God.'

With those two things in mind, and with our question and answer from the Westminster Shorter Catechism thrown in for good measure, let's see how we can attempt to answer our questions.

Q. What is our chief concern in life?

The glory of God.

Q. What is most important to us?

The glory of God.

Q. What is our reason for being here?

To glorify God.

The question then remains to be asked, how shall we do that? How shall we glorify God? The answer to that question will be found when we can answer another question that is equally if not more important than this one. What has God done in this world to glorify himself?

The answer is Immanuel--God manifested in the flesh. The answer is the cross. The answer is Christ crucified. The answer is Jesus crucified, risen, and coming again. The answer is the Kingdom of Christ. The answer is the GOSPEL.

Our chief concern in life should be Christ's kingdom and the advancement of that kingdom through the gospel. What should be most important to us is living, loving, and proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ. Our reason for being here in this world is for the Fellowship of the Gospel. Our chief concern should not be our health or our wealth or our prosperity or our liberty or anything else other than the glory of God through the gospel. When any of those other things takes the place of Christ and his kingdom and the gospel as our chief concern, then we are in danger of becoming idolaters, at least in our minds.

Oh, there is certainly room in our thinking for other things. We should be concerned for our families, our communities, our business, our responsibilities, yes. But none of these things should be our chief concern. Our chief concern should always be for the gospel and its advancement.

And that is what Paul is concerned with here in our verse above. 'Don't worry about my well-being,' he might as well write. 'Worry about the gospel and its well-being.'

We could take a cue from Paul. How is the gospel today in your world? Are you living it? Are you proclaiming it through your words and actions? Is your worship centered around it? Are you concerned first and foremost for its advancement? 

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, (Philippians 1:12 ESV)

What is more important? For Paul to be free from prison? Or for the gospel to be advanced? What would be more important for you?