October 19, 2007

HOLD SUCH MEN IN HIGH REGARD

Philippians 2:19-30

(Read Philippians 2:19-30)

At first glance, we may be inclined to wonder why such a section was included in the Bible. It feels a little bit like we are reading someone else’s mail. Paul refers to two men named Timothy and Epaphroditus and discusses his own plans and hopes and explains decisions he has made. How do these deliberations and plans Paul made nearly 2000 years ago have any bearing on us today?

But as we look closer at the section, I think we can discern the divinely intended purpose.

In the first five messages on the letter, we have seen a number of themes emerge: true fellowship, commitment to the cause of Christ, the unity which comes from true humility and sacrificial service. What struck me rather forcibly as I meditated on the passage in front of us this morning was the fact that the men referred to in this paragraph actually serve as models of the very truths and values that Paul has been expounding in the earlier paragraphs.

Earlier in chapter 2, Paul held up for us the supreme example for all Christian life and conduct when he said to us, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ.” Christ is our ultimate model. But in this paragraph, we have three more such models. We have the Apostle Paul, we have Timothy and we have a man named Epaphroditus.

These multiple models of Christian conduct and character actually communicate a very helpful message to us. When we set Christ up as our ultimate example, we are all prepared to pay lip service to that truth. We know that we are supposed to be “like Christ.” But on another level, we may be tempted to say, “But he was the Son of God! Who could ever live up to his standard?”

So then we consider the example of Paul. Again the temptation may come: “But he was an Apostle! He had a divine vision from heaven. He had a special calling. Who could ever match his level of commitment?”

So then we add Timothy as a role model. Now we are getting closer. But there may still be a tendency to think: “But Timothy was a pastor and an evangelist! He was a ‘full time Christian worker.’ How am I supposed to measure up to that?”

And so finally we come to Epaphroditus. Who was Epaphroditus? He was a member of the church at Philippi. He was an ordinary Christian. He was a volunteer. We don’t know very much about him, but we are not aware of any special visions, or training or calling. He was one of us. Yet here is the point I want to make. All of these models: Christ, Paul, Timothy and even Epaphroditus, all modeled the life and character that Paul has been discussing in the first half of his letter. They speak with one voice. They mark the path for all of us. It is a path that is attainable and accessible for every Christian.

As I mined this passage for insights into the character and example of these three men, I found three common traits.

1. A deep and genuine concern for the welfare of others

We find this first in Paul. As Paul describes his emotions and his motives behind his different actions and decisions, this concern comes through vividly. In verse19, he states that he will be “of good comfort when I know your state.” As the NIV translates, “I may be cheered when I receive news about you.”

In verse 27, he indicates that Epaphroditus’ recovery from a serious illness was also a mercy for him, lest he should have “sorrow upon sorrow.” Obviously Epaphroditus’ health and welfare was a vital concern to Paul. Then in verse 28 he states again that when the Philippians’ concern for Epaphroditus has been alleviated, he himself will be “less sorrowful.” It is clear that Paul cared deeply about his fellow workers as well as the welfare of the Christians in Philippi. All of the decisions Paul discusses in this paragraph are made, in large part, based on how they will impact on other people. I am reminded of Paul’s words in Philippians 2:4: Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Paul is modeling that attribute.

This same concern is reflected in Timothy. In fact in verse 20 Paul states, I have no man likeminded who will naturally care for your state. We know that Timothy was willing to make the long and difficult journey to Macedonia. Why? Because he cared about the welfare of the believers in Philippi.

This deep concern for the welfare of others shines out of Epaphroditus as well. We are told in verse 26 that he longed after you all and was full of heaviness because that ye had heard that he had been sick. Apparently Epaphroditus had fallen seriously ill while he was in Rome. Somehow, word of his illness had reached Philippi. This naturally caused deep concern on their part. Epaphroditus had since recovered, but now he is worried because they are worried! He cared, even about their state of mind.

What we see in all three of these men is this deep and genuine concern for the welfare of others “on the team” and in the body of Christ. Their ties were not just mechanical or professional. They cared! And in so doing, they set a wonderful example for all of us in the church. How much do we really care for the needs and the welfare of others?

2. A passion for Christ and the advance of his kingdom

We know that Paul had this passion. After all, he is in prison for the cause of Christ as he writes the letter. He has already stated his life purpose and passion in Philippians 1:21: For to me, to live is Christ…But here we find that Timothy shares this passion. Verse 22 makes this clear: he has served with me in the gospel. To advance the gospel message is to advance the kingdom of Christ. This was the driving force in Epaphroditus’ life as well. This was what led him to volunteer to make the journey to Rome to minister to and with Paul. Look at verse 30: Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death.

This passion to serve Christ and to advance his cause and his kingdom drove all three of these men forward. I wonder, do you and I share this same passion? This leads me to the third trait I found in these three men.

3. A willingness to make sacrifices and to take risks for Christ, for the advance of his cause and for the welfare of his people

This trait really brings together and is the culmination of the other two. The deep and genuine concern for other believers and the passion for Christ and his cause is expressed and reflected in a willingness to make sacrifices and take risks. Obviously the ultimate sacrifice for the cause is expressed in Christ’s own death on the cross for our sins.

This same willingness to make sacrifices and take risks is seen in Paul and his imprisonment. Paul himself expressed it in Acts 20:23-24, as he made his final journey toward Jerusalem: “I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.”

But Paul is not only willing to risk his life for the cause. He is also willing to make personal sacrifices because of his concern for the welfare of others. Think of his position. He is in prison, dependent on those around him to minister to his needs. But here he is sending Epaphroditus back to Philippi and making plans to send Timothy. Why? Because he wanted to reassure the Christians back in Philippi. The same spirit is expressed in the small sacrifices and inconveniences, just as it is in the grand gesture.

This spirit is evident in Timothy also. This is what set him apart even from the other believers around him. Look at Philippians 2:21: For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s. NIV translates: For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ…But you know Timothy.” He’s not like that. He’s different. He is willing to leave his own agenda and abandon his own plans to make the long journey to Macedonia, because he genuinely cares about your welfare and the state of the church in Philippi.

Once again, this spirit of sacrifice and risk is not the exclusive domain of the apostle or the pastor or the “professional” Christian. Look at the description of Epaphroditus in verse 29-30: Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me. He risked his very life for the work of Christ and to minister to the needs of the Apostle and to fulfill the mission entrusted to him by the church in Philippi. What are we willing to risk or sacrifice for Christ?

The year was 1985. The place was southern Sudan. My brother Lanny was the team leader of a mission group providing primary health care centers in the southeast corner of the country. The civil war was heating up. There were serious concerns about security. The team had already been evacuated once, but they returned when things appeared to quiet down. In October that year, Lanny and his wife Janis were driving between two of their mission stations when their Landrover was ambushed by bandits. Two shots were fired. One of them blew out a tire. The other bullet came through the side of the vehicle, and struck Janis in the back, low on her left side. Lanny stepped on the accelerator, driving on 3 tires, and drove until they were out of range and danger. He then stopped to change the tire before driving another 3 hours over rough roads to reach the nearest medical help. Nurses administered first aid to Janis, and a medevac plane was called for on the radio.

We were living in Nairobi at the time. We received a phone call telling us of the ambush and that Janis was being flown to Nairobi. We drove to Wilson Airport to await the arrival of the plane. It landed and taxied to a stop. One of the mission leaders walked across to the plane, and then came back to us. His words are forever etched in my memory. “I am terribly sorry,” he said. “Janis didn’t make it.”

What risks are we willing to take for Christ and his cause? What are we willing to sacrifice? When is the price too high? Most of us will not be asked to give that “last full measure of devotion.” But we are called to make sacrifices for Christ and his cause. What are we willing to give? An hour a week? Two hours a week? Four hours? A day? Some frustration? Some lost sleep? A tithe of our income? More? Are we like Paul and Timothy and Epaphroditus? Or are we like the general herd described in verse 21: Everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. It is a probing and sobering question, and one that we each must answer for ourselves. The church of Jesus Christ has always moved forward on the shoulders of believers who were willing to make sacrifices and to take risks for Christ and his cause. Hold such believers in high regard.

Before we leave this intriguing text of Scripture, I want to take one more look at it. I want to trace a thread of Biblical truth that runs through the passage, but which may not immediately catch our attention. It is one of the priceless benefits that is enjoyed by those like Paul and Timothy and Epaphroditus, who are willing to make sacrifices and take risks for Christ and his cause. It is the bond of Christian with-ness.

No, I have not suddenly developed a lisp. (And for those of you reading this, I have not suddenly forgotten how to spell.) I am deliberately coining a new phrase; the bond of Christian with-ness. What do I mean? There is a little Greek preposition that occurs in the text here. It is the Greek word “sun” meaning “with”. It’s found in verse 22 in the phrase “he hath served with me in the gospel. When Christians serve together (with each other) in the cause of Christ, they experience the essence of true Biblical fellowship. They experience the bond of with-ness. While this little preposition occurs only once on its own in the paragraph, it is used as a prefix in two other words, both found in verse 25. The phrase “companion in labor” is a “with” word. So is the word “fellowsoldier”. The NIV accurately translates them both “fellow laborer and fellow soldier”. When we serve with each other and when we labor with each other and when we battle common enemies side by side, we experience the bond of Christian with-ness. We experience what the Bible means by “fellowship” in the sense that we are fellow laborers, fellow soldiers and fellow servants of the gospel. The mutual bond that we experience in our common endeavors is one of the rich rewards of Christian service.

This richness is illustrated by the variety of metaphors that Paul uses to describe these relationships. A son with a father: He first of all describes Timothy as being like “a son with a father.” There is such a touching intimacy in that phrase. Yet there is no superiority or inferiority implied, because he combines this metaphor with the expression “serving with me” as a fellow slave for the gospel.

When he comes to Epaphroditus, he piles on the phrases: “my brother and fellow laborer and fellow soldier.” All of these are rich in color and resonance.

My brother; I can relate well to this metaphor. I have a picture as the wallpaper on my computer at work. It was taken at Mom’s funeral last March. It is a picture of me with my four brothers, all five of us with our arms around one another’s shoulders. It was the first time in 12 years we had all been together. I can truly say that my sorrow at Mom’s death was significantly softened by the joy of standing shoulder to shoulder with all my brothers to plan her memorial service and pay tribute to her together. There is a bond between brothers of shared life and experience that is like no other. That is how Paul felt about Epaphroditus as a result of their shared experience in the gospel.

My fellow laborer; there is a bond that is created by sharing a task together and completing it successfully. I remember Alfred Muinde. He was a man in our church in Nairobi He was member of the church board, and also the Sunday School superintendent. Alfred and I spent a lot of time together, planning church activities and making home visits to church members. In the process of laboring together, we formed deep bonds of friendship.

My fellow soldier; I have never served in the military, so I cannot expand on this one from my own experience. But I have read many books about men and their wartime experiences. From this reading, it is clear that sharing the frightening experiences of combat together can create one of the deepest bonds known to men.

It is Shakespeare who captures this experience in his play Henry V, in the speech the king gives before the climactic battle:

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me

Shall be my brother;

As we face the challenges of spiritual combat together, we also experience the bond of Christian with-ness.

But it is important at this point that we be completely candid with one another. There is nothing automatic about this process. Brothers often fall out. Fellow laborers can quarrel. Fellow soldiers can even turn their weapons on each other. But when we come together as Christians in true humility to serve together in the cause of Christ, we can experience the deep fellowship that is our birthright as believers. This is what Paul had found with Timothy and Epaphroditus and with others. It is what Paul wanted the Philippians to recapture by healing the divisions and restoring harmony in their church.

Well, we’ve covered a fair bit of ground this morning. I am not sure which part of this sermon God brought you here to hear this morning. Does he want to kindle in your heart a deep and genuine concern for the welfare of others? Does he desire to gently blow on the banked coals of your faith to reignite your passion for Christ and his cause? Does he need to stir up within you a new willingness to make sacrifices and take risks for Christ, for the advance of his cause and for the welfare of his people?

Or maybe he wants to do all three and along the way bring us all into a new appreciation of the bond of Christian with-ness as we experience true Christian fellowship together.