Scripture Reference: Philippians 2:19-30
Timothy – Continued
Please read Philippians 2:19-24 for background to this section.
Paul did not make the mistake of moving too fast with Timothy. He gave him time to get his roots down, and then he enlisted the young man to work with him on his missionary tours. He taught Timothy the Word and permitted him to watch the apostle in his ministry (2 Timothy 3:10–17). This was the way Jesus trained His disciples. He gave personal instruction balanced by on-the-job experience. Experience without teaching can lead to discouragement, and teaching without experience can lead to spiritual deadness. It takes both instruction and experience.
He had a servant’s reward (verses 23–24). Timothy knew the meaning of “sacrifice and service” (Philippians 2:17), but God rewarded him for his faithfulness. To begin with, Timothy had the joy of helping others. To be sure, there were hardships and difficulties, but there were also victories and blessings. Because Timothy was a “good and faithful servant,” faithful over a few things, God rewarded him with “many things,” and he entered into the joy of the submissive mind (Matthew 25:21). He had the joy of serving with the great Apostle Paul and assisting him in some of his most difficult assignments (1 Corinthians 4:17); Timothy is mentioned at least twenty-four times in Paul’s letters.
But perhaps the greatest reward God gave to Timothy was to choose him to be Paul’s replacement when the great apostle was called home (see 2 Timothy 4:1–11). Paul himself wanted to go to Philippi, but had to send Timothy in his place. But, what an honor! Timothy was not only Paul’s “beloved son,” and Paul’s servant, but he became Paul’s substitute! His name is held in high regard by Christians today, something that young Timothy never dreamed of when he was busy serving Christ.
The submissive mind is not the product of an hour’s sermon, or a week’s seminar, or even a year’s service. The submissive mind grows in us as, like Timothy, we yield to the Lord and seek to serve others.
Epaphroditus
Please read Philippians 2:25-30 for background to this section.
Paul was a “Hebrew of the Hebrews”; Timothy was part Jew and part Gentile (Acts 16:1); and Epaphroditus was a full Gentile as far as we know. He was the member of the Philippian church who risked his health and life to carry their missionary offering to the apostle in Rome (Philippians 4:18). His name means “charming” and a charming Christian he is!
He was a balanced Christian (verse 25). Paul could not say enough about this man; “My brother, fellow worker, and fellow-soldier.” These three descriptions parallel what Paul wrote about the Gospel in the first chapter of this letter:
“my brother”— “the “fellowship in the Gospel” (Philippians 1:5)
“my fellow worker”— “the furtherance of the Gospel” (Philippians 1:12)
“my fellow soldier”— “the faith of the Gospel” (Philippians 1:27)
Epaphroditus was a balanced Christian!
Balance is important in the Christian life. Some people emphasize “fellowship” so much that they forget the furtherance of the Gospel. Others are so involved in defending the “faith of the Gospel” that they neglect building fellowship with other believers. Epaphroditus did not fall into either of these traps. He was like Nehemiah, the man who rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem with his sword in one hand and his trowel in the other (Nehemiah 4:17). You cannot build with a sword nor battle with a trowel! It takes both to get the Lord’s work accomplished.
Dr. Henry (Harry) A. Ironside used to tell about a group of believers who thought only of “fellowship.” They had little concern for reaching the lost or for defending the faith against its enemies. In front of their meeting place they hung a sign: JESUS ONLY. But the wind blew away some of the pasted letters, and the sign ended up reading – US ONLY. It was a perfect description of a group of people who were not balanced Christians.
To Be Continued
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD 
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