Philippians 2:19-30
19 “But I hope, in the Lord Jesus, to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. 20 For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus. 22 But you know of his proven character, that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father. 23 Therefore I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I see how things go with me; 24 and I trust in the Lord that I myself will also be coming shortly. 25 But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my need, 26 because he was longing for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. 27 For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I have sent him all the more eagerly, so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less concerned about you.29 Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and hold people like him in high regard, 30 because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to compensate for your absence in your service to me.”
For I have no one else: When it comes to fellow co-workers in Christ, it is really hard to find good help. Selfish ambition often takes over making someone an ineffective worker of the Gospel. Teachers may be charismatic but have empty theology. Paul knew this all too well. Timothy, however, was an exception to this. He truly knew Christ and was a gift to Paul and would be a gift to the church in Philippi because of his agreement with the Gospel.
Sorrow upon sorrow: Paul did not view healing of physical sickness as something that is guaranteed. In this account, Paul makes it clear that God had mercy and healed Epaphroditus. This healing was a relief to Paul. But Paul did not believe in prosperity theology. He was not naming and claiming someone’s healing as if to strongarm God into healing. Instead, God, who is personally involved in our lives, chooses to heal according to His will.
Service to me: Epaphroditus was sent to help Paul in his imprisonment. This aid somehow completed the help offered by the church in Philippi. The love of the church for Paul reveals the intimate relationship present amongst these early believers in Jesus. They were not merely acquaintances but rather kindred spirits of the Gospel who treated one another as family.
