Anything

In June 2001, Tropical Storm Allison dumped 20-40 inches of rain on the Houston area in just a few days. Thousands of houses were flooded, including the homes of some of the couples in our “newlyweds” Sunday school class. Our class of mostly 20-somethings descended on those houses hauling out furniture, ripping out carpet, and tearing out drywall.

Many hands make for lighter work, but it was still hard work. A couple of the men in particular had some impressive blisters after tackling a particularly stubborn demolition. At the end of the workday, the lady of one of those houses, saying thanks to everyone who helped, noted, “I’ve always been good for writing a check, but these guys have given up skin.”

There are definitely different levels of commitment.

In Philippians, Paul is writing to his dear friends who have supported him in his ministry time and again. They funded his work in Macedonia and Thessalonica and have sent him material aid in his prison stay. For that, he calls them partners in the gospel.

He also wants them to know that his prison stay “has actually served to advance the gospel” (1:12).

As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. (1:13-14)

Sure, some are preaching Christ just to make trouble for Paul. “But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice” (1:18).

Why does Paul rejoice? Because the gospel is being preached. Whether the motives are bad or pure, the gospel is going out, so Paul, sitting in chains, rejoices. He’s willing to suffer anything for the gospel.

The day may soon come when we have to decide just how committed we are to the gospel. We’re good for writing checks. And the Lord’s work needs checks! I hope you do support the ministers of the gospel at home and abroad. If you don’t know of any missionaries you can support individually, your church is certainly connected to some kind of missionary organization that you can contribute to.

But some of Paul’s contemporaries went beyond financial help. They were out preaching the gospel. They became confident because of Paul’s chains. Why? “If Paul can suffer prison for the gospel, I can take some risks, too.”

Because Paul was in prison. Prison prison. Not air-conditioned, three squares and a cot prison. He was in sleeping-in-chains only eating what his friends brought him prison. And he rejoiced.

As our “negative culture” turns against Christianity, preaching the gospel will become both harder and more important. What are we going to be willing to do for the gospel? Because it’s not about “the gospel” at all. It’s about the lost.

Am I willing to make myself a little uncomfortable so the gospel gets to the people who need to hear it? Maybe it means giving up some regular treat like my usual iced mocha latte so I can give that money to the gospel work. Maybe it means being willing to potentially embarrass myself by sharing the gospel with someone who isn’t interested. If we’re not willing to do that, what chance is there that, when push comes to shove, we’ll be willing to go to jail for taking the gospel to the lost?

Are we willing to “give up skin” for the lost?


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