The Apostle Paul could always spot the false brothers: they were the ones only concerned about themselves. When false teachers unsettled the Galatians in the AD 40s by saying you had to be circumcised to be saved, they were making “a good showing in the flesh… in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ” (Galatians 6:12). Corinth was troubled in the AD 50s by teachers obsessed with measuring themselves by and comparing themselves with one another (II Corinthians 10:12). Paul sent Timothy to Ephesus and Titus to Crete in the AD 60s to correct those swerving by their selfish desire to be teachers and to silence “empty talkers” who were “upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain” (I Timothy 1:6-7, Titus 1:10-11). The false teaching changed, but its teachers were always self-centered.
Paul’s concern was serving Christ, not seeking man’s approval (Galatians 1:10). “Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved” (II Corinthians 12:19). To truly follow Jesus, we must focus on what pleases God and helps others.
How many times have we made choices for something less than that? We worry about our own comfort. We argue over how we want things to be done. We make changes to be like everyone else. Yet, we risk becoming “corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith” if our main motivation as Christians is still fulfilling our desires (II Timothy 3:8). We must constantly challenge ourselves to be lovers of God and not of ourselves.
When we love God, we will continuously grow and change! “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (II Timothy 3:16-17). As we come to His Word, He will complete us more and more, teaching us something new or correcting something we are doing wrong. Then, instead of falsely saying we serve Jesus while we selfishly quarrel, boast, and tear down, we will be made holy by the truth, God’s word!