One of the things I love most about Paul is that he knew what was important, and when he understood that, he lived it out so fully.  What mattered the most to him, what really defined his life was his desire to preach Jesus and see others come to know Him, as Paul had. That was everything to Paul, that is what mattered most to Paul.

Today, we see Paul write in Philippians 1: 16-18 about what he has seen about people preaching Jesus.  What he said today struck a chord with me.  Listen to what he says:

16These proclaim Christ out of love, knowing that I have been put here for the defense of the; 17the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but intending to increase my suffering in my imprisonment. 18What does it matter? Just this, that Christ is proclaimed in every way, whether out of false motives or true; and in that I rejoice.

Paul isn’t worried about other people.  He isn’t worried about their motives.  He’s only worried about two things.  Preaching Jesus, and that Jesus is glorified above all.

There is a freedom that comes when we stop worrying about them.  There is a freedom that comes to our lives when we can let go of other people, their “stuff” and focus on what we do have control over.

Ourselves.

Imagine how much peace you’d have right now if you could let “them” go.  Don’t worry about them, their motives, their actions, anything such as that.  Just let them go, let God take care of it.  Imagine the peace that you’d have.  Paul says he isn’t worried them.  He knows that Jesus will be preached, and that is all that matters.

Don’t worry about them.

Now, sometimes worrying about “them” can keep us from focusing on the things that need to focus on in our own lives so we may do that to keep from letting God deal with the things that need to be worked on in our lives.  That is not healthy, and we need to give those things to God.

Today, let’s be faithful in our lives and let’s give “them” over to God.  We know that He can handle it.  And in all things, let’s preach Christ.

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