If you’ve ever watched people do things “for God” but felt their motives were wrong, you’re not alone. Paul dealt with the same thing. Some people saw him suffering, locked up in prison, and thought, “Now’s my chance to shine.” Some preached Christ out of a heart of love, wanting to help. But others did it selfishly, thinking Paul’s loss was their gain.
It’s easy to get discouraged when you realize not everyone serves God for the right reasons. Some folks are driven by love, while others are just in it for what they can get—attention, money, influence, you name it. If you’ve ever been overlooked, betrayed, or seen someone else take credit for your hard work, you probably know the sting Paul felt.
But here’s what makes Paul’s response so powerful. He says, in effect, “You know what? I really don’t care about their motives. Every time Christ is proclaimed, I will cheer them on.” That’s a posture that only grace can give. Only someone God has deeply loved can let go of the need to win or be recognized. Paul had every reason to feel sorry for himself, to play the victim, or to lash out at his rivals. Instead, he chose to keep celebrating whenever Jesus was made known.
That attitude doesn’t come easily, especially when you’re hurting. I know a little about that. I’ve experienced periods in my life when illness or the betrayal and jealousy of others sidelined me. Once, I lost nearly all my friends overnight because of false accusations. I watched people who used to call me “family” walk away, while others stepped into the spotlight I’d once carried. For a while, I felt that they were building their success on my pain. But God used that season to teach me what Paul knew: it’s not about me.
Paul wasn’t living for the applause of people. He wasn’t keeping score. He was living for the glory of Jesus. Whether he was free or in chains, whether his critics were winning or losing, Paul knew his life was in God’s hands. “Alive, I’m Christ’s messenger; dead, I’m his bounty. Life versus even more life! I can’t lose.” That’s the secret: when you belong to Jesus, you can’t lose, even when it looks like you’re losing.
There’s a freedom that comes when you let go of your own reputation and start cheering for the gospel to go forward, no matter who gets the credit. Maybe you’re not where you want to be. Perhaps someone else got the promotion, the pulpit, or the platform. But if Christ is being preached, you can celebrate. You’re not in competition with anyone. God’s kingdom isn’t a race to the top. It’s a race to the bottom, servanthood, humility, and love.
Paul could rejoice because he trusted that, through the prayers of his friends and the power of the Holy Spirit, everything God wanted to do in and through him would get done. He didn’t worry about being embarrassed. He wasn’t trying to control the outcome. Even in jail, Paul didn’t get a smaller platform; he got a bigger one. “They didn’t shut me up; they gave me a pulpit!” he said. That’s what grace does—it takes what looks like a loss and turns it into an opportunity for Jesus to be seen more clearly.
And then Paul turns it back on us. He says, in my words, “Don’t hang your conduct on whether I’m around to see it. Live in such a way that you make the message of Jesus look beautiful. Stand together. Don’t be afraid, even when people oppose you. God will use your courage and unity to prove He is working, even in your struggles.”
You don’t get to choose what others do. You don’t get to control their motives. But you do get to choose your response. Will you keep loving, praying, and cheering for every small victory of the gospel, even if someone else is in the spotlight?
If you’re feeling left out, overlooked, or hurt by someone else’s ambition, let me remind you: God still deeply loves you. Your value doesn’t depend on what others say or do. In Christ, you have “life versus even more life.” You can’t lose.
Paul says there’s more to this life than just trusting Christ. There’s also suffering for Him. And both are gifts. Your pain and your praise both belong to Him. God never wastes any part of your story—not the waiting, rejection, or moments when you feel forgotten. Every bit is making Christ more accurately known.
Today, choose to live in a way that makes Jesus look good, whether anyone sees it or not. Stand together with those who love Him. Refuse to get caught up in the petty rivalries that divide people. Don’t flinch or dodge when you’re opposed. Above all, we should never stop cheering when Jesus is proclaimed.
As I’ve learned through my own wounds and victories, the kingdom of God isn’t about who stands in the spotlight. It’s about the light of Christ shining in every dark place. That’s what I want for you and me: not to win, but to point to the One who already won it all for us.
So keep cheering, friend. God’s grace is big enough for every motive, every preacher, every story—including yours.