THE DANGER OF PREACHING CHRIST WITH WRONG MOTIVES

THE DANGER OF PREACHING CHRIST WITH WRONG MOTIVES

By Rev. Samuel Arimoro

Main Text: Philippians 1:15-18

Key Verse: “Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.” (Philippians 1:15-18, KJV)

Supporting Texts: Matthew 6:1-5; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 1 Corinthians 13:1-3; Galatians 1:10; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; 2 Corinthians 4:5.

Description: This message examines the dangers of preaching the Gospel with selfish, competitive and ungodly motives, reminding every minister and believer that God is concerned not only about what we preach but also why we preach it.

INTRODUCTION

Preaching Christ is one of the greatest responsibilities entrusted to the Church. It is a sacred assignment that demands sincerity, humility, holiness and genuine love for God and humanity. However, not everyone who preaches the Gospel is necessarily motivated by the right spirit. While some preach because they love Christ and desire the salvation of souls, others may preach for personal recognition, financial gain, competition, envy or the desire to promote themselves.

In Philippians 1:15-18, Apostle Paul reveals that there were people preaching Christ out of envy and strife, while others preached out of goodwill and love. Some were sincerely committed to advancing the Gospel, while others were motivated by selfish ambition and intended to make Paul's imprisonment more painful. Surprisingly, Paul did not allow their wrong motives to distract him from the greater purpose of the Gospel. He rejoiced that Christ was being preached, even though he recognised the wrong intentions behind some of the preaching.

This passage teaches us that the work of God must never become a platform for personal ambition, unhealthy competition or the pursuit of human applause. A person may be preaching the right message with the wrong motive. Therefore, every minister, church worker and believer must regularly examine the intentions of the heart. God is not only interested in the message we proclaim; He is also interested in the spirit and motives behind our service.

1. THE REALITY OF WRONG MOTIVES IN THE WORK OF GOD

Wrong motives have always been a challenge in the ministry. The fact that someone is preaching, leading a congregation or participating in Christian service does not automatically mean that the person's heart is right with God. Paul acknowledged that some people were preaching Christ out of envy and strife. This shows that even sacred assignments can be pursued with an unholy attitude.

a. Not everyone serving God is motivated by love (Philippians 1:15)

Paul said that some preached Christ out of envy and strife, while others preached out of goodwill. This clearly establishes that people can participate in the same spiritual assignment but have completely different motives.

Some people serve because they genuinely love God, while others serve because they want to be noticed, celebrated or considered important. The outward activity may look similar, but the inward intentions are different.

We must never assume that every person involved in ministry is necessarily driven by love for Christ. The condition of the heart matters greatly to God.

b. Envy can enter the ministry (Philippians 1:15)

Envy is a dangerous attitude that makes a person uncomfortable with another person's progress, influence or success. Some people become unhappy when another minister is being celebrated, when another church is growing or when someone receives opportunities they desire.

Instead of rejoicing over what God is doing through others, they begin to compete, criticise and undermine them. This attitude is contrary to the spirit of Christ.

A minister who cannot celebrate the grace of God upon another person's life needs to examine his or her heart. The Kingdom of God is not a competition.

c. Strife can destroy the spirit of Christian service (James 3:16)

James 3:16 declares that where envy and strife exist, confusion and every evil work follow. Strife introduces unnecessary division, suspicion, bitterness and hostility into the Church.

When ministry becomes a struggle for superiority, the focus shifts from winning souls to winning arguments, controlling people and proving personal importance.

Every Christian worker must reject the spirit of strife and pursue peace, unity and genuine cooperation in the body of Christ.

d. Wrong motives can exist behind religious activities (Matthew 6:1)

Jesus warned against doing religious activities to be seen and praised by people. He taught that acts of righteousness performed merely to attract human attention do not receive the reward that comes from the Father.

This means that even prayer, preaching, giving and fasting can be corrupted by the desire for public recognition.

The important question is not simply whether we are doing something religious, but whether we are doing it to honour God or to attract the admiration of people.

Biblical Example: Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-10)

Ananias and Sapphira wanted to appear generous before the Church while secretly holding back part of the money from the sale of their property. Their action revealed a desire to receive recognition without genuine integrity. Their story reminds us that God sees beyond outward religious appearances and examines the true intentions of the heart.

2. THE DANGER OF ENVY AND COMPETITION IN MINISTRY

One of the most dangerous attitudes in Christian service is the spirit of competition. The Church is called to work together for the advancement of God's Kingdom, but envy can make ministers see one another as rivals instead of fellow labourers. Paul was in prison, yet some people used his situation as an opportunity to promote themselves and increase his suffering.

a. Competition shifts attention from Christ to individuals (Philippians 1:15)

When ministers begin to compete against one another, the attention of the Church shifts from Christ to human personalities. People become more concerned about who has the largest congregation, who is more popular, who has more followers and who receives greater recognition.

This is dangerous because the Church belongs to Christ, not to any individual. Every minister is a servant, and every congregation must ultimately point people to Jesus.

Our assignment is not to outshine one another but to glorify Christ together.

b. Envy makes people uncomfortable with another person's success (Romans 12:15)

The Bible commands us to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. Envy does the opposite. It makes a person unhappy when others are progressing.

A minister operating under the influence of envy may find it difficult to celebrate another minister's testimony, church growth, promotion or divine opportunity.

We must learn to appreciate God's grace in other people's lives. Another person's success does not mean that God has forgotten us. There is enough room in God's Kingdom for everyone to fulfil their divine assignment.

c. Competition can produce destructive attitudes (James 3:14-16)

James warns against bitter envy and selfish ambition because they produce disorder and evil practices. Competition driven by selfish ambition can lead to gossip, false accusations, manipulation and the deliberate destruction of another person's reputation.

When the desire to be recognised becomes stronger than the desire to serve, people may begin to compromise godly principles to achieve their personal ambitions.

The Church must never sacrifice truth, love and integrity on the altar of personal advancement.

d. We are fellow labourers, not enemies (1 Corinthians 3:6-9)

Paul planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. This reveals that different ministers can have different assignments while serving the same divine purpose.

One person may be called to evangelise, another to teach, another to pastor and another to strengthen the Church through prayer. Their assignments may differ, but they are all working for the same Master.

We must therefore respect the grace and assignment of others without turning ministry into a contest for superiority.

Biblical Example: Miriam and Aaron's Opposition to Moses (Numbers 12:1-10)

Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses, questioning his leadership and position. Their conduct revealed the danger of allowing personal dissatisfaction to become opposition against God's appointed servant. God intervened and dealt with the matter. This teaches us that envy and unhealthy competition can bring serious spiritual consequences.

3. THE DANGER OF USING MINISTRY TO PROMOTE SELFISH AMBITION

Paul identified another group of preachers who proclaimed Christ out of contention and insincerity. Their intention was to add affliction to his imprisonment. Rather than supporting the Gospel with genuine love, they used the ministry as an opportunity to pursue their personal interests. This teaches us that selfish ambition can corrupt even a noble spiritual assignment.

a. Selfish ambition makes personal recognition the priority (Philippians 1:17)

Some people enter ministry because they desire titles, positions, honour and public recognition. Their greatest concern is not the spiritual growth of people but the attention they receive.

When personal recognition becomes the motivation for ministry, service is no longer viewed as a privilege but as an opportunity for self-promotion.

Jesus taught that the greatest among His followers must become a servant. True greatness in God's Kingdom is measured by faithfulness, humility and service, not by public applause.

b. Wrong motives can turn ministry into a tool for personal advantage (1 Timothy 6:5)

Paul warned against people who regard godliness as a means of financial gain. Ministry must never become a business platform for exploiting people's faith or manipulating their needs.

There is nothing wrong with receiving appropriate support for genuine ministerial labour, but it is wrong to make financial gain the controlling motive for serving God.

The Gospel must be preached with integrity, and God's people must never be treated as instruments for personal enrichment.

c. Selfish ambition can make people rejoice over another person's suffering (Philippians 1:17)

The preachers Paul described were not simply indifferent to his imprisonment; they hoped to increase his affliction. They saw his difficult circumstances as an opportunity to advance their own interests.

This is a terrible condition of the heart. A genuine servant of God should not rejoice when another minister is suffering, struggling or passing through hardship.

We must never use another person's weakness as a ladder for our own promotion. When a fellow believer falls, our responsibility is to pray, encourage and help restore that person.

d. God will expose the hidden intentions of the heart (1 Corinthians 4:5)

Human beings may judge ministry by outward results, eloquence, popularity and public achievements. However, God sees what is hidden from human eyes.

Paul teaches that the Lord will bring hidden things to light and reveal the counsels of the heart. This means that no motive is permanently hidden from God.

We must therefore live and serve with the consciousness that one day we will give an account to the Lord, not only for what we did but also for why we did it.

Biblical Example: Gehazi's Greed (2 Kings 5:20-27)

Gehazi was the servant of Elisha, but he allowed greed and selfish ambition to influence his actions. After Naaman was healed, Gehazi secretly pursued him and collected gifts by deception, even though Elisha had refused them. His hidden motive was exposed, and he suffered the consequences. His story warns us against using spiritual association and ministry opportunities for selfish gain.

4. THE IMPORTANCE OF PREACHING CHRIST WITH SINCERITY AND LOVE

In contrast to those who preached out of envy and selfish ambition, Paul recognised others who preached Christ out of goodwill and love. Their motivation was genuine concern for the Gospel and for the people who needed to hear it. This is the attitude every Christian minister and worker must cultivate.

a. Love must be the foundation of Christian ministry (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

Paul teaches that even if a person speaks with the tongues of men and angels but has no love, that person is nothing. He also explains that great sacrifices and spiritual activities are meaningless without love.

This means that preaching without love becomes an empty religious exercise. A minister may have knowledge, eloquence, spiritual gifts and a large congregation, but these things cannot replace genuine love.

We must love God, love His Word, love the people we serve and desire their spiritual welfare.

b. Sincerity gives credibility to the Gospel (2 Corinthians 2:17)

Paul declared that he did not handle the Word of God deceitfully but spoke sincerely before God in Christ. This is the standard for every preacher.

The message of the Gospel must not be manipulated to satisfy personal interests, impress an audience or achieve selfish objectives.

A sincere minister does not preach one message publicly while living in deliberate contradiction to it privately. Integrity must accompany proclamation.

c. Our ultimate purpose must be to please God (Galatians 1:10)

Paul asked whether he was seeking to please men or God. He made it clear that if his primary goal were to please people, he could not truly be a servant of Christ.

The minister who seeks human applause may compromise the truth to avoid criticism. However, the minister who desires to please God will remain faithful even when the message is unpopular.

We must never allow the fear of losing human approval to make us abandon divine instructions.

d. We must preach Christ rather than ourselves (2 Corinthians 4:5)

Paul declared that the apostles preached not themselves but Christ Jesus the Lord. This is the central responsibility of every Gospel minister.

The pulpit must not become a stage for personal advertisement, self-glorification or the promotion of human personalities. Christ must remain the centre of our preaching.

When people leave our churches, they should have a greater understanding of Jesus, a stronger desire to follow Him and a deeper commitment to His Word.

Biblical Example: John the Baptist (John 3:27-30)

When people began following Jesus, John the Baptist did not become jealous or threatened. Instead, he declared, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John understood that his assignment was to prepare the way for Christ, not to compete with Him. His humility remains a powerful example of genuine ministry.

5. LEARNING TO RESPOND CORRECTLY WHEN OTHERS HAVE WRONG MOTIVES

Paul's response to the situation is remarkable. Although he recognised that some people were preaching with wrong intentions, he refused to become bitter, distracted or discouraged. He maintained his focus on the advancement of the Gospel. His response teaches us how to handle unhealthy attitudes and competition in Christian service.

a. Do not allow people's wrong motives to distract you from your assignment (Philippians 1:18)

Paul refused to allow the wrong intentions of others to stop him from rejoicing over the preaching of Christ. He understood that his calling was greater than the personal ambitions of those around him.

In ministry, we may encounter criticism, jealousy, misunderstanding and unhealthy competition. However, we must not allow these things to become distractions from our divine assignment.

Keep preaching, keep serving and remain faithful to what God has called you to do.

b. Maintain a Christ-centred attitude even under provocation (Philippians 1:18)

Paul did not allow bitterness to control his response. He rejoiced because Christ was being preached, even though some preachers had wrong motives.

This does not mean that wrong motives should be ignored or that false teaching should be tolerated. It means that we must not allow personal resentment to become greater than our commitment to Christ.

We should correct what is wrong with wisdom, maintain godly character and keep our hearts free from bitterness.

c. Refuse to repay evil with evil (Romans 12:17-21)

When people act out of envy or selfish ambition, the natural temptation is to retaliate. However, Scripture commands believers not to repay evil for evil.

A genuine servant of God must not respond to jealousy with jealousy, gossip with gossip or hostility with hostility.

We overcome evil by doing good. Our character must remain consistent with the Gospel we preach.

d. Keep your motives pure before God (Psalm 139:23-24)

David prayed that God would search him, know his heart and reveal anything in him that was displeasing. This should also be our prayer.

Instead of spending all our time examining the motives of others, we must regularly allow God to examine our own hearts.

Ask yourself: Am I serving God because I love Him? Am I preaching to win souls or to gain recognition? Am I happy when others succeed? Am I willing to serve even when nobody praises me?

A heart that is continually submitted to God will be better prepared to serve Him with sincerity.

Biblical Example: Joseph's Response to His Brothers (Genesis 45:4-8; 50:19-21)

Joseph's brothers acted out of jealousy and sold him into slavery. Yet, when Joseph later gained authority in Egypt, he did not use his position to take revenge. He recognised God's greater purpose in the difficult experiences he had endured and provided for his family. His response teaches us not to allow the wrong actions of others to destroy our character or distract us from God's purpose.

CONCLUSION

Philippians 1:15-18 reminds us that it is possible to preach the right message with the wrong motive. Envy, strife, selfish ambition and the desire for recognition can enter the ministry and corrupt the spirit of Christian service. God is not merely interested in our activities; He is also interested in the intentions of our hearts. We must therefore examine ourselves continually and ensure that our service is motivated by love, sincerity, humility and genuine devotion to Christ.

Let Christ remain the centre of everything we do. Do not compete with fellow ministers, rejoice over another person's suffering or use the work of God to promote selfish ambition. Preach Christ with sincerity, serve people with love and remain faithful to your divine assignment. May our lives and ministries bring glory to Jesus, and may we never become so occupied with religious activities that we lose the right spirit behind them.

PRAYER POINTS

1. Father, purify my heart and remove every wrong motive from my service, in Jesus name.

2. Lord, deliver me from envy, jealousy and unhealthy competition, in Jesus name.

3. Father, give me genuine love for Christ and for the people I serve, in Jesus name.

4. Lord, destroy every spirit of selfish ambition in my life, in Jesus name.

5. Father, help me to preach Your Word with sincerity and integrity, in Jesus name.

6. Lord, deliver me from the desire for human applause and recognition, in Jesus name.

7. Father, teach me to celebrate the success of other ministers, in Jesus name.

8. Lord, give me grace to remain faithful despite criticism and opposition, in Jesus name.

9. Father, let my ministry bring glory to Jesus and advance Your Kingdom, in Jesus name.

10. Lord, make my heart pure and my service acceptable before You, in Jesus name.

PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS

1. You shall serve God with a pure heart and genuine love for Christ.

2. Every spirit of envy, jealousy and unhealthy competition shall lose its hold over your life.

3. You shall not use your divine assignment to pursue selfish ambition.

4. Your ministry shall be characterised by sincerity, humility and integrity.

5. You shall not be distracted by the wrong attitudes and actions of others.

6. You shall celebrate the success of others without feeling threatened.

7. Your preaching shall bring people closer to Christ and establish them in the truth.

8. You shall receive grace to remain faithful when human recognition is absent.

9. Your life and ministry shall become instruments for the advancement of God's Kingdom.

10. At the end of your assignment, you shall receive the Lord's commendation as a faithful servant, in Jesus' name. Amen.