God’s Plan is Better

Philippians 1:12-13 “…the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;

Life can change in a hurry. Rarely does life go like we wanted. I know my life is nothing like I thought it would turn out. Husbands and wives have plans and circumstances suddenly and unexpectedly change the whole direction of their life forever. What are we to do? How are we to respond? The right answer is to rejoice. Rejoice, if you are in the Lord Jesus Christ, saved and forgive, because God’s plan is better than your plan. It might not be what you wanted, and it might not be the easiest, but know it is better in God’s plan. “All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” All things, even those bringing us pain and suffering, work together for good.

Paul, the man who wrote these words wasn’t a self-help guru, living his best life. He was a prisoner, not knowing if he would ever be set free. Not many boys grow up dreaming to die a prisoner, but Paul looked the spiritual reality of his life (Philippians 1:12). “The things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel”. What a blessed way to look at a terrible situation. Rather despondent because he sat in bonds for preaching Christ, he realized his imprisonment meant the gospel would progress. The church worried his ministry would end, but his persecution had furthered the gospel. Paul’s desired to spread the gospel in Rome. God’s plan? Lock Paul up. Now we can understand how the Philippians thought prison wasn’t the best place for a missionary. It would have been easy for this to become a bitter providence, but God’s plans are always better than ours.

According to secular history, Paul probably had to rent house for his confinement, continually chained to Roman soldiers. No privacy. No time alone for prayer and meditation. His unwanted circumstance provided unique ministry opportunities. While Paul taught Christians who visited him, he also had another captive audience listening in. How was Christ “manifest” in all the palace if Paul was locked up? The guards. Every shift, they had to listen to Paul pray, preach, teach about Jesus. The guards couldn’t leave and Paul couldn’t stop preaching. They heard about Jesus all day long, and by God’s grace, were converted. These guards filled with the Spirit, were able to carry the gospel places Paul would have never been able to go. Paul was not chained to the guard; the guards were chained to Paul.

Are you chained to a desk? A chair? A hospital bed? Be like Paul. God has you where you are so rejoice and serve him where you are. You may have access to people no preacher ever will. Paul’s imprisonment had some unintended consequences. God ordained the gospel to spread in ways no one would have considered. Not only were Paul’s prison guards saved and spreading the gospel, but his confinement motivated others to get to work.

Paul’s trail planted the seeds that grew a backbone in other men. Philippians 1:14, “And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much bolder to speak the word without fear.” Men had to step up with Paul locked up because now, someone had to do it. Great basketball players can sometimes make a team worse. Because of their great ability, average players continually defer to the star instead of being aggressive. Sometimes they stop to watch their MVP do great things. With Paul on the bench, these men could longer stand aside and defer to the great Apostle to spread the Word. Necessity is the great motivator. Few Dad’s work their dream job but labor in whatever job can provide for their family. Toss “personal fulfillment” out the window when you’ve got hungry kids.

The dedication and commitment, that landed Paul in chains, stirred up these other men to follow him with boldness. Perhaps they were shamed at their own walk or inspired by his. Sometimes it just takes one to stand. I’ve been in situations where a whole group of people wanted to do something, but everyone was afraid to speak. The whole group just sat there and stared at each other, waiting for someone else to do what they wanted to do but were afraid to start. Finally, when one stuck their neck out, and they all saw it didn’t get chopped off, others said “Yes, that’s right, I agree!” It took one to stand. When Paul was thrown in jail, the men of other churches saw and said “Paul is right, and I will not fear what Man can do to me!” Don’t let the fear of man stop us from our duty. Paul’s pain planted the seed of blessing for others.

Philippians 1:15, “Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife…” Paul’s trial also stirred another group of Paul’s fellow preachers. They indeed preached Christ and really preached the truth, but they were jealous and envious of Paul. They were jealous of Paul’s position, resentful of Paul’s preaching, and envious of Paul’s authority. They competed against Paul on their way to “the top” which in reality, was a race to the back of the line (Matthew 20:16). This happens all the time. Power struggles in churches or between pastors of other churches of like faith, all trying to be the top dog. With Paul sidelined, now was the perfect opportunity to make a play to be the next big preacher. Out of strife and jealousy, they preached even more to move up in position. Remember, God knows your motives. Praise God the gospel is preached, but what a shame to serve in the truth to make your own name great.

Let’s be honest, shall we? There are some charlatans who pick up a Bible and preach. Some less than stellar individuals stand behind a pulpit every Sunday and preach the gospel for many reasons other than Christ’s glory. However, as Paul said in Philippians 1:15, there are “some also of good will.” Some who preach because they love the Lord. Their desire is Christ exalted and his gospel proclaimed. Philippians 1:16-17 says, “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 defense of the gospel.” Some men preach the truth out of spite, believe it or not, and only preached because Paul wanted to and couldn’t and they wanted to rub it in his face. They wanted to tear Paul down to build themselves up. Others saw the standard bearer fall, and couldn’t let the colors hit the ground, and picked up the flag and carried on the fight for the glory of their King. Some preach for fame. Some for fortune. But that doesn’t mean everyone does. Just because you had a bad experience with one pastor or church doesn’t mean all pastors and churches are wicked.

Philippians 1:18, “What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.” Paul doesn’t rejoice at the preaching of error. Paul didn’t put up with heresy for even an hour (Galatians 2:5). This verse doesn’t address what they were saying, but why they said it. They preached a holy message with wicked motives. Hypocrites who were thoroughly orthodox and really bad guys. Men who were right in doctrine but deceitful in heart. They were correct in theology but with wrong motives. Paul’ main concern was not his own feelings but Christ’s glory. If men preached the truth just to hurt him, or to get a big following, they could go right ahead. They can preach to get amens at his expense, if that floats their boat, as long as Christ the Lord is preached in truth.

I love the Baptist church. I try and pray never to compromise on Baptist distinctives. Anything worth believing is worth fighting for, and that includes church truth. However, I rejoice whenever people are saved, and Christ is preached.

The circumstance is not suited for Paul to rejoice, but he does because he rejoices in the Lord. Paul saw the big picture and what he wanted most was for sinners to trust in Jesus and His name proclaimed – and that was happening. Not the way he would have planned it or not the way he wanted it, but it was the way God planned it and God’s ways are the best ways. Every. Single. Time.

Are you going through a difficulty? Has God’s providence proved to be a confusing disappointment? Have you considered God’s ways are better than your ways? Have you applied gospel principles to your life?