Cultivating A Servant Heart

[SLIDE 1] Introduction

If you have your Bible, then I invite you to turn to Philippians 2:19-30.

Philippians 2:19–30 ESV

19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. 23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, 24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also. 25 I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, 26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, 30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.

Illustration

Biblical Theology

Context

Paul introduces two characters in this letter: Timothy and Epaphroditus. He would soon send Timothy to the church of Philippi to encourage them and bring back good news to Paul so that he would be encouraged. Epaphroditus traveled from Philippi to Rome to bring gifts to Paul, and he almost died on his journey due to his illness. Paul uses these two ordinary people to show us what it looks like to live a sacrificial and selfless life of service for others.

EXPOSITION

A servant is under the Lordship of Jesus. (v. 19)

A servant has restless eyes: seeking the concerns and needs of others. (v.20)

A servant is selfless, not self-seeking. (v.21)

A servant has a tried character. (v.22a)

A servant learns from his teacher. (v.22b)

A servant has gospel-centered. (v.22c)

[19] I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you.

Timothy was half Jew and Greek. He joined Paul and Silas as a missionary in Acts 16. He was Paul’s spiritual son, apprentice and close companion. He was a young man at this time.

Paul will soon send Timothy to the Philippians so that Timothy can bring their encouraging news to Paul. But, why is he sending Timothy?

FUN FACT: Timothy literally means “God-honouring.”

[20] For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare.

Paul is sending Timothy because he has no one like him. In other words, “I have no one who can equally be effective in attending to your service.”

“No one like him” could also be translated as “nobody is as like-minded him.” Timothy and Paul are like-minded, which literally means they had one thought or soul. Just like Paul, he’s a man who’s genuinely caring for people. But, why send Timothy and not other people?

[21] For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

Paul states that other people, “they all,” seek their own interests. They are self-serving and selfish. They care more about themselves and not about other brothers and sisters in Christ. The teaching on selflessness and looking out for others’ needs first has been taught by Paul in previous passages: READ Philippians 2:3-4.

But, who’re “they” that Paul is addressing? Remember, Paul is still in prison at Rome. It’s unclear if these people are Christians or non-Christians. These people might not have demonstrated their character and like-mindedness (unlike Timothy).

John Calvin comments that these people became useless in the ministry because (1) they became cold in the gospel work, (2) they were negligent in their service, and (3) they serve Christ in a superficial manner.

Point: It is impossible to serve God and others wholeheartedly while he/she is devoted to his/her selfish interests. For example, if you are serving at GO2 because your main motivation is to add to your volunteering hours for school, then you might not be serving God and others wholeheartedly.

[22] But you know Timothy's proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.

Unlike those people, Timothy has proven that he’s dependable and reliable. He’s selfless, not selfish. In other words, he has demonstrate his character by serving with Paul. And Paul can vouch for him.

[23] I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, [24] and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.

Paul would eventually send Paul once he knows how his imprisonment goes. He wants to understand how things would turn out for him. Paul has confident faith in God that after he’s released from prison, he will visit the Philippians.

[25] I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need,

Epaphroditus is only mentioned in this letter. He is a part of the church of Philippi. His mission and ministry is to deliver gifts to Paul (See Philippians 4:18) So, he travelled from Philippi to Rome, which is about 700 - 1200 miles depending on which route he took.

Paul gives commending remark about Epaphroditus: my brother (belonging to the same family), fellow worker (laboring toward the same goal), and fellow soldier (sharing the same trials).

Instead of sending Timothy, Paul would send Epaphroditus out of necessity. But, why?

[26] for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill.

Paul is sending him because Epaphroditus strongly desires the Philippians and he is troubled because the Philippians heard that he was ill. But, what kind of illness?

[27] Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

The Bible does not tell us what kind of illness, but it was severe enough that he almost died.

In our contemporary world, we have antibiotics, medicines, or prescriptions to heal our illness.

But, people in the 1st century did not have the luxury like us. So, usually people who suffered severe illness have a high chance of dying. It would be unusual for people to recover.

However, God intervened by showing him mercy. We can safely assume that Epaphroditus was healed. Either God miraculously healed him or someone with the spiritual gift of healing only during that era healed him.

Also, God had mercy on Paul. If Epaphroditus died, then Paul would have suffered more sorrow for losing a friend.

[28] I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious.

Because of God’s mercy, Paul was willing to immediately send him back to the Philippians. They somehow heard that he was ill (v.26). They might have assumed that he died and failed to deliver the gifts to Paul.

So, there are two reasons for sending Epaphroditus back. First, the Philippians may be glad and joyful to see him. Second, Paul may be anxious for the Philippians because they might have been worried about what happened to Epaphroditus. It might be burdensome for Paul to keep Epaphroditus longer.

[29] So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, [30] for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.

When Epaphroditus returns to the Philippians, they are to receive him in the Lord with all joy because he went above and beyond the call of duty in serving people. He risked his life serving others. He indeed served others sacrificially.

GOSPEL: Epaphroditus imitated Jesus Christ because Christ gave His life serving others. Jesus came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45)

Application

A servant has restless eyes: seeking the concerns and needs of others (v.20)

A servant is not selfish (v.21)

A servant is proven to be dependable and reliable (v.22)

A servant goes above and beyond the call of duty (v.30)

Cultivating a life of servanthood is honourable (v.29)