It can be a heady, self-promoting experience to command the attention of many people with a message so compelling, namely the gospel. This doesn’t take away from the many who minister for the right motivation, love. Praise the Lord for those who at great personal sacrifice dedicate their lives to preaching the word of God so that others might know His grace.

Yet the preaching of the gospel can be a tool of manipulation. Indeed, some people will use any means available to exalt themselves or carry out their selfish goals. The prophet warned, “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it?” (Jer 17:9).

During Paul’s imprisonment, some saw the opportunity to advance themselves unopposed, all while taunting Paul and attempting to rub his face in the dirt, so to speak. Why would anyone want to do that? One can understand the Jews resisting the entire message of Christ, because of their misguided belief that the Gospel undercut the Law of Moses. But to take the same message as Paul and preach it to the same audiences with a goal to “distress” Paul is almost inconceivable. This constitutes one of the most egregious actions of the fallen nature—taking something that is absolutely good and pure, the gospel of grace, and using it for nefarious purposes.

One can’t help but think of the huge “Christian” enterprises today with their finely clad, photogenic preachers strutting before immense crowds of worshipping fans. Millions of dollars exchange hands for Christian entertainment. Pastors negotiate increasing salaries as they think of the ministry as “a job,” rather than a passion for Christ and His message. When church leaders gather, they often inquire about the size of each other’s churches. Why is that important? Christian publishers have been bought by secular media conglomerates because lots of money can be made. “Commercial competition” is indeed rife in the Christian world. One Bible translation is marketed as being, “The most widely used translation today.” What’s that all about? Selling one successful Christian book with its speaking circuit spin-offs can set up an author financially for life. Yes, and all the while servants of the gospel struggle with persecution around the world, simply to get the message out to needy, lost souls.