Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. . . The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. (Philippians 1:15, 17 ESV)
What is wrong with ambition, you might say. Isn't ambition a desirable trait?
It is, perhaps, in our culture, but that's because we associate ambition with hard work, planning, goals, and achieving something worthwhile. All of these are virtues. The ambition spoken against in the Bible, however, has a key element which is not virtuous. That element is self.
And do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not, . . . (Jeremiah 45:5a ESV)
We do not belong to ourselves, we belong to God. We do not seek our own glory, we seek God's glory. We do not live our life, we lose our life to follow Him. To be a disciple of Christ means to leave all self, indeed forsake self, to follow Christ. Self-ambition has no place in this scheme.
Some in Rome were preaching Christ for selfish ambition. Their motive was their own glory, their own promotion, their own gain. They were in it for what they could get out of it--because they thought it would benefit them. These, Paul said, were not sincerely preaching Christ, rather they did so hoping to add affliction to Paul in his imprisonment.
It probably went something like this. We know from internal evidence that there were likely divisions within the church(es) of Rome. If those divisions were anything like the Church of Corinth then they may have centered on personalities. Paul called the Corinthians 'carnal' for having such factions in their midst. If the same was true at Rome then perhaps there were some who were opposed to Paul because they preferred their own favorite personality--maybe Peter or Apollos or some other. Perhaps some of these were so carnal and selfish that they saw the dual opportunity of promoting themselves by preaching Christ in such a way as to make themselves look bolder, more spiritual, and get Paul in more trouble all at the same time. This would fit the description of preaching for "envy" and "rivalry".
Before we consider Paul's reaction to this I want us to pause and look in the mirror. I want us to ask ourselves some tough questions. Why do we do what we do? What is our motive? Do we serve Christ just to look good? Do we work in the church so others will praise our 'self-sacrifice'? Do we do it for the praise of men? Do we give so that others will see us giving and think more highly of us? Are we in ministry for what we can get out of it? Are we followers of Jesus because we believe that there is personal success to be won by following this path? Are we in it for the praise of men? The promotion? The prestige? Or do we only seek God's glory?
Only you can answer these questions. I hope you will answer them honestly.
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