He that Ministered. Philippians 2:25. “Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellow-soldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.” Timothy followed the example of a trusted mentor who had sent him with a message and could be trusted to speak as someone with the mind of Christ. Christ, as a servant, served God with "unparalleled humility, unreserved obedience and unquestioned victory." He knew what He was sent to accomplish, and He did it completely. Devoted shepherds feed and protect those in their care. To have the mind of Christ is not impossible. The Lord said, "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." Strength of character is linked to meekness, and lowliness of mind makes us approachable. These qualities are essential for those who lead and love the Lord's people.
Epaphroditus was a different kind of man than Timothy. His name links him to Aphrodite (to the Greeks, Venus to the Romans), the goddess. He probably did not come from a sheltered background like Timothy but rather from a very ungodly one. His journey from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God would have been very real and personal to him. Paul refers to him as my brother, highlighting their shared interests and affections. He is also called "my fellow-laborer," indicating he was actively involved in the work of the Lord rather than being a bystander. As a fellow soldier, his commitment to the work shows he was able to successfully participate in the fight for the souls of men and the strengthening of saints. Clearly, he was a balanced Christian with a burden for God's people. He came from Philippi with a gift from the Lord’s people there to help meet Paul’s needs.
There were qualities in some of our brothers in Christ in past times, from whom we all can learn how to conduct ourselves and serve the Lord today. The affectionate term of “brother” is not one we have to earn; it’s part of what it means to be in God's family. However, a “companion in labor” is different. Laborers choose whether they will work in the field, or they will miss the harvest.
There will be opposition and difficult circumstances when someone is in military service. Soldiers who win battles don't stand still all the time. We must defend what has already been gained for God's kingdom and glory, but there are other places and people who are currently lost in the world controlled by the enemy of their souls.
A messenger is a person who is sent on orders with something urgent to tell others who need to hear it. He must listen carefully to understand the message’s facts clearly and know how to deliver it effectively. To deliver a message involves immediately leaving the comforts of home to bring benefits or blessings to others. It may be a warning or a message to come to a place for something good.
One thing all of these have in common is the source from which we start. Each one has a desire to do what those in authority command. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the One who has challenged us to minister to others in His name and to carry out the work He instructs us to do. It is the Lord’s expectation that those around us should be able to read “The Gospel according to you.” There are people who need someone to show compassion, like a brother or sister, or who require help. Others are out in the field, needing assistance in the labor of bringing in the harvest that the Lord has provided. Still, others face opposition either at home or in distant lands and long for a fellow soldier with a message to share and would welcome someone to lend a hand in the work.
By the grace of God, I pray to have all these qualities and to step out in faith. This is truly necessary if I can honestly acknowledge Jesus as Lord. Such actions also give purpose to a life that might otherwise be dull and without meaning if I only live for myself and what I can gain. The people we help will be grateful for our aid and inspired that we finally arrived when they needed us.
Epaphroditus was the kind of man who is only mentioned here in Philippians, but from the testimony given, we can see he was trusted by the church to carry money and deliver it to Paul. Paul also trusted him to return with this letter to the same people who sent him. Though he was not a well-known figure across the churches of his time, he has become an example to us of a man with the mind of Christ, even though he lived and worked in relative obscurity. He had godly zeal, yet, like the Lord, "Made Himself of no reputation." He was "meek and lowly in heart." He did not want to cause worry to those who knew him. He did not focus on his sickness. He didn't want others to worry that they had caused it by sending him on a 700-mile journey with their gift to Paul. Health is not a right all believers have. Sickness is not always due to sin, and instant healing and miraculous recovery are not always God's will. Healing is a result of mercy being shown, not our demands and rights being fulfilled.