Honour....
Philip. 2:19-30 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. [20] I have no-one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. [21] For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. [22] But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. [23] I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. [24] And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.
[25] But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow-worker and fellow-soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. [26] For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. [27] Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. [28] Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. [29] Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honour men like him, [30] because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.
Paul writes about to of his co-workers, and pays them great tribute. In one sense it seems incongruous that he has spent all his time talking about submitting our egos to worship and serve Jesus, yet now he seems to be picking out two men for special mention.
But I think that Paul knew that serving the Lord could be hard and that the greater the task the bigger the sacrifice. Timothy had taken on the role of a travelling pastor, touring with Paul and serving in cities far away from home. Epaphroditus, having been sent by the church at Philippi, had almost died of an illness. At the same time Paul talks about Timothy’s humility and his genuine concern for others. He doesn’t seem to be the type of man who is in it for his glory.
I think that Paul’s thought here are about how we treat those who have made big sacrifices to serve the Lord. Our communities need to be loving places, who acknowledge that some of us will be called in devoting ourselves to serving him full time. These people still need to eat and live, and the body must take care of them, ensuring that they do not find themselves in relative poverty. Also we need to acknowledge that Church needs volunteers to function. We need to honour those who have given of their time freely to serve God. I must confess that I haven’t fully worked out what exactly honouring means – but at the very least it must include an appreciation, actively and continually expressed, to all who serve the Lord.
[25] But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow-worker and fellow-soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. [26] For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. [27] Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. [28] Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. [29] Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honour men like him, [30] because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.
Paul writes about to of his co-workers, and pays them great tribute. In one sense it seems incongruous that he has spent all his time talking about submitting our egos to worship and serve Jesus, yet now he seems to be picking out two men for special mention.
But I think that Paul knew that serving the Lord could be hard and that the greater the task the bigger the sacrifice. Timothy had taken on the role of a travelling pastor, touring with Paul and serving in cities far away from home. Epaphroditus, having been sent by the church at Philippi, had almost died of an illness. At the same time Paul talks about Timothy’s humility and his genuine concern for others. He doesn’t seem to be the type of man who is in it for his glory.
I think that Paul’s thought here are about how we treat those who have made big sacrifices to serve the Lord. Our communities need to be loving places, who acknowledge that some of us will be called in devoting ourselves to serving him full time. These people still need to eat and live, and the body must take care of them, ensuring that they do not find themselves in relative poverty. Also we need to acknowledge that Church needs volunteers to function. We need to honour those who have given of their time freely to serve God. I must confess that I haven’t fully worked out what exactly honouring means – but at the very least it must include an appreciation, actively and continually expressed, to all who serve the Lord.
posted by Gordon at
7:28 am
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