Philippians 1:12ff—Whatever It Takes

A large corporation—it may have been Walmart—used to have a motto, “Whatever It Takes.”  It was a mantra by which employees were supposed to operate.  It meant the goals or mission of the organization (ostensibly customer service) was supposed to drive everything, and personal problems and logistical limitations were supposed to be set aside to serve the customer.

It’s good to think about this.  So many people want to make excuses more than anything else, want to look at the obstacles, and this saying looks at the goal.  I operate this way a lot with teaching my students.  I don’t say, “I can’t do this because …. “  I just focus on what will help the students learn.

I think the Apostle Paul would take this approach to his work in spreading the gospel.  In this part of chapter 1, he discusses four things that could, but don’t, stop him from spreading the gospel.  Whatever it takes, he is going to keep standing for Christ and speaking about Him to whomever he can.

Imprisonment will not deter him.  Verses 12-14.

Why is Paul even in prison?  To answer that you must read the last five or six chapters of Acts to find out.  After his third journey, he ended up back in Jerusalem in a conflict with the Jews.  The Jews accused him of taking a Gentile into the temple, they wanted to use the Romans to kill him, but Paul as a Roman citizen could appeal to the Caesar.  He spends several years under arrest in Israel, goes through a shipwreck, and ends up in Rome.  He spends two or more years (60-63 AD) under house arrest with the Imperial Guard watching him night and day.  The Imperial Guard was very powerful.  As far as Paul is concerned, being in prison is not a deterrent to his ministry.  It’s part of it.  Just like in Acts 16 when he chose to go to prison and met the jailer, he takes this opportunity to get to Rome, speak before the emperor, meet Roman leaders, and minister with the Roman Christians.  He is allowed many visitors and writes Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon at this time.  He is rather optimistic, and mentions that he wants to go to Spain when he gets out.

By the way, don’t get the idea that writing these letters was easy, something he dashed off like we write letters.  These are scholarly arguments, researched, on top of being inspired by the Holy Spirit and a statement of apostolic authority.  So it might have taken quite a while to write it. 

Later, in 64-68, he was imprisoned again, this time because of Roman persecution of Christians under Nero.  That was a totally different imprisonment.  He was alone; he knew he would be executed.  He writes I and II Timothy (and probably other letters we don’t have.)  Listen to what he writes in II Timothy 4:6ff.

Opposition or lack of support will not deter him.  Verses 15-18

Paul states that he has rivals.  We don’t know who these people are.  They are not false teachers, because he says they are preaching the gospel and he is glad for that.  But somehow they do not support Paul, and their motivations are not as sincere as they should be, although it’s not money and it wouldn’t be fame in a society that persecuted Christians.  So this is not like us saying, “Well, that televangelist seems to be in it for the money, but that’s ok because he has a big church and does a lot of good work for poor people,” or “Look at those nice Mormon boys, I should pray for them.”  Again, these opponents may have had issues with Paul’s apostolic authority but they were still preaching the true gospel, and Paul was not going to let them get in his way or deter him.

Even still, that does not condone their motivations.  Only one motivation is really the right one for spreading the gospel:  agape love.

Paul knows that the gospel is good news but harsh medicine.  Medicine sometimes burns, stings, tastes bad, and even makes us feel bad before it cures us.  Chemotherapy works, but what a hard treatment to go through!  Surgery is, in some ways, barbaric, but it works.  The gospel offers everything but to take it, we have to be honest with ourselves, God, and others (because we must publicly state we believe).  And one thing we have a very hard time with is self-honesty.

Paul had some enemies and opponents, but he had many, many friends.  For Paul, “whatever it takes” means that not everyone would love him, but we know everyone is not going love us anyway.  Paul committed himself to presenting the gospel openly, relationally, to everyone, but people can still choose.  I Corinthians 9:19 is another example of “whatever it takes,” but we know not everyone rushed to believe. 

Fear of death will not deter him.  Verses 19-21.  Mainly because he is not afraid of death, because it means a deeper relationship with Christ.  That is what we have to want in heaven.

Desire to see Christ in Heaven will not deter him.   Verses 22-24.  It is still necessary for him to be on earth, but if he really had a choice, he’s not sure—he would probably choose heaven.

Conclusion:   When it comes to obedience to Christ, whatever it takes is a good plan.