Perspective and Priorities: Philippians 1:12-18

Why the Gospel Always Comes First

By Greg Russell

Renovate Church—Centennial, CO

I’ve learned the hard way that having the wrong perspective can be dangerous. Back in the late 70s and early 80s, I was the singer in a heavy metal band called Task Force. We were big on pyrotechnics. We used to set off massive flash-powder explosions to kick off our shows.

One night, playing a club with a low drop ceiling, my bandmate and I had a “difference of perspective.” I thought we should play it safe with the explosives; he thought the priority was looking cool. He added an entire bottle of flash powder to our rig when I wasn’t looking. The resulting explosion blew a hole the size of a car in the ceiling and even singed my mustache. I spent the rest of the set singing through the smell of my own burnt hair.

In life—just like in heavy metal—when your priorities and your perspective are out of alignment, things eventually blow up.

Finding Purpose in the “Prison Seasons”

In Philippians 1:12–18, the Apostle Paul gives us a masterclass in perspective. When he wrote these words, he was 50 or 60 years old and literally in chains.

If I had spent 30 years planting churches and performing miracles only to end up in a dungeon, I think I’d be in a bad mood. I’d be asking, “Why, God? After all I’ve done, why am I here?” But Paul’s perspective was different. He didn’t see a prison; he saw a platform.

“Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.” — Philippians 1:12

Because Paul’s primary priority was the Gospel, he could rejoice even under lock and key. He realized that his imprisonment was actually making other believers more confident and daring, and spreading the news of Christ even to his captors. When your highest priority is Jesus, every season has a purpose.

The Hierarchy of Love

We often struggle with the “hard sayings” of Jesus—specifically when He speaks about loving Him more than our own families. It can feel like a hard pill to swallow.

However, we have to understand the difference between love as a feeling and love as a priority. In our culture, love is a fuzzy emotion. In the Bible, love is a verb; it’s what you do. Putting God first is actually the absolute best thing you can do for your spouse or your children. When you align your life under Jesus, you aren’t taking love away from your family—you are finally learning how to love them rightly.

Warts, Bunions, and the Body of Christ

It is no secret that the church is imperfect. Today, the “modern church” is frequently maligned, sometimes for very valid reasons. We see legalism, power struggles, and misplaced motives.

But Paul dealt with this, too. He noted that some people were preaching Christ out of “envy and rivalry” just to make his life harder. His response?

“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.” — Philippians 1:18

We often try to solve church problems with more rules and structure, but the answer isn’t legalism. The answer is alignment. Just as a body has hands and feet that might have “warts and bunions,” it is still the Body of Christ. Whether it’s through ancient cathedrals or modern worship music, beauty and truth are tools meant to inspire worship. If our perspective is right, we won’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Getting Off the Sidelines

It is a lot easier to talk about a problem than it is to solve it. In the digital age, there are entire “ministries” whose only mission is to criticize what everyone else is doing. It’s like sitting on the couch criticizing a quarterback when you’ve never stepped onto the field.

Paul’s advice to Timothy remains the standard for us today: “Keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist” (2 Timothy 4:5).

This week, I want to challenge you to check your alignment:

• Engage: Don’t just watch from the sidelines. Talk to your friends about why you believe.
• Share: Use your influence (and your social media) to spread things that are spiritually profound.
• Die to Self: Taking up your cross isn’t about a physical burden; it’s a renunciation of a self-centered life.

Don’t live for comfort, safety, or even your own reputation. Seek first the Kingdom and His alignment, and let God take care of the rest.