Are You Building God's Kingdom or Your Own?

Wherever Paul went, he had a harvest—even the Roman centurions seemed to like him and gave him freedom, which shows he won people over. He said, “He that wins souls is wise,” and somehow his chains made the believers in Rome bolder to preach, not more afraid. But then Paul points out something wild—some were preaching Christ out of envy and selfish ambition, competing for followers, platform, or influence, not out of love for Jesus. That’s what scares me—because when we stand before the Lord, He’s not just looking at what we did… He’s looking at why we did it. The fear of the Lord is what purifies your motives—and that’s what keeps your work from burning up at the judgment seat.