EXAMPLES. Philippians 2:19-30 Paul was still addressing the potential problem of disunity, which was the purpose of this letter. He had taken steps to correct the issue by directing the believers in Philippi's attention to the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the reason for living and our model for living. That is why it is so crucial to have the mind of Christ. He already provided two examples of self-sacrificing love by pointing to Christ's love for them and his own love for them. The love of Christ is so great that we, as believers, can never forget "The Son of God who loved me, and gave Himself for me." Those who brought us the Gospel did so because "The love of Christ [constrained them.]" Evangelists love souls and preach the Gospel to the unsaved because they want to see them rescued from "the wrath to come." Teachers love the truth and instruct believers in "the right ways of the Lord." Pastors (shepherds) love the saints and care about their "state."
Two men are presented as examples of this concern, and how it can be observed in us today can be learned from their example. Both Timotheus and Epaphroditus demonstrated selfless care for the saints. Choosing to know people and their problems involves us in responsibilities beyond our own interests. In the lives of those solely focused on themselves, there is self-occupation, the display of self, self-pity, self-centeredness, selfish motivations, and self-serving behavior. These traits are foreign to the mind of Christ. I must personally consider, "Is my priority in life my private interests or the interests of others?"
Paul used these two men as examples; they were quiet, unassuming individuals who didn't seek public recognition. An evangelist and a teacher with a public ministry will hopefully be those God uses for His glory, and they know the answers to man’s needs. However, they don’t often understand the specific problems each person in the congregation faces. In church life, we need people like Timotheus and Epaphroditus who can get to the root of the issue because they genuinely care for God's people, and everyone notices this. Timothy was similar to Paul in this way because he had visited Philippi and knew the people. He was saved through Paul's efforts in the Gospel and had been trained, encouraged, and mentored by Paul.
A Certain Disciple… TIMOTHY. Philippians 2:19. “But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort when I know your state.” Paul and Timothy came from different cultural backgrounds, and their personalities were definitely contrasting. However, they shared a belief in the reasonableness of and faith in the Scriptures, and both had placed their personal trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. Timothy tended to be naturally timid and likely struggled with a quiet disposition. Instead of being judged for his youth, Paul, the older man, saw a young man full of faith who had great potential as a faithful servant of the Lord, despite being very different from himself. Because Paul took Timothy along on pioneer evangelistic efforts in the Middle East and in Philippi—the first place they preached in Europe—Timothy was mentored by a man with an opposite nature but one who believed in him. Although he sometimes seemed overwhelmed by the challenges he faced, he was willing to serve the Lord, his mentor, and God's people despite his struggles.
Timothy was a sincere believer, with no doubt about that, and he was respected by those who knew him best. He was submissive to his elders and willing to do whatever was necessary for effective service. He unhesitatingly followed the guidance and wishes of the elders of his assembly and the older servant of the Lord he served with. He was eager to learn from others when he was young and to adapt to new places and people as he grew older. Timothy could work well with others of different nationalities and cultures, and he could collaborate with men from various backgrounds in the outreach of the Gospel. He remained faithful during difficult times, could be relied on to be loyal to those who led him, and was a true disciple, eager to learn. He could be trusted to do what was needed when sent to serve in challenging environments.
Like Timothy, we are expected to be trustworthy when problems arise, willing to seek help when needed and offer it when asked. He was able to accomplish what was expected of him, knowing that the Holy Spirit could do through him what he couldn’t do on his own. We should always trust God to do what He has sent us to do without doubting Him, even when we doubt ourselves. When failure occurs, we should not quit but start over and keep working until victory is achieved. We should be patient with the unruly, firm in the scriptures, kind to everyone, able to see beyond the obvious, and willing to take orders without complaining. A heart that can empathize with others' spiritual exercises and work together joyfully in fellowship matures someone from an apprentice to a leader – capable of serving.
In the personal letters Paul wrote to Timothy, we can learn a lot about what he was like. He called him his son, and he also called him a “man of God.” Paul trusted him like a father trusts his obedient son, and he believed him to be a man God had chosen to be committed to the work of the Lord. Paul was an evangelist at heart, and Timothy had the heart of a shepherd. There couldn’t be a better combination for the work they were engaged in. Paul was older and bolder, while Timothy was younger and tender.
Timothy had a servant’s heart [Acts 19:22] and was willing and eager to serve God’s people. Much of what we do in life for Christ is done for people. We serve God when we serve people. Most people prefer to be served rather than serve. Timothy was also available to be a companion to other men engaged in the Lord's work [Acts 20:4]. When we work with others, we learn the value of each person and their opinions.
Timothy was also a learner with a teachable spirit [1 Tim.3:10-11]. He absorbed everything he could from Paul, including how to teach God's word, his way of living as a servant, and his life's purpose. He was eager to learn and to spend time with Paul. As a result, he was a person who could be trusted to teach sound doctrine, shepherd the Lord’s people, and handle sensitive issues properly. In this chapter, we see that this man, a “pastor” who loved the people, could perceive their spiritual needs and communicate that effectively to Paul. These men shared similar goals for the sake of God and His people.
He could be trusted [1 Cor.4:17] because he had been proven to be faithful in living out what he knew was right. Timothy was reliable in difficult situations because he had spiritual insight to identify the problem and find the right solution. Timothy was a reproducer and a worker in the Gospel ministry [1Thes.3:2], and he was willing to pass on what he had been taught and his vision for the souls of God’s people. Paul instructed him to pass on what he learned to other men who would then pass those teachings on to others from whom they learned.