Joy in Coworkers- Philippians 2:19-30

There was a man who wanted to build a log cabin in the woods for a retreat from the world. He had selected a nice plot of land, clear of smaller trees and bushes, well suited for a cabin. It was also on a hill, overlooking a gentle flowing stream that could be heard humming over the smooth river bank stones. The area was fit snuggly into a wooded area filled with pines and oaks, as well as blackberry bushes.

The man began cutting trees down by hand. He assumed the project would take him several years to complete, so he made the arrangements necessary to be out in the woods for that period of time. It was not long into the project, though, before the man realized he was in over his head.

The man knew nothing about woodworking. Sure, he knew how to operate a saw. What he lacked in knowledge was how to connect the logs to form a wall. He also did not know how to construct a well, or how to lay plumbing, or anything electrical. Not only that, the man also realized he was extremely limited in his physical strength. The beams that would make the wall were extremely heavy and zapped his strength rather quickly.

After several months, he could see the layout coming together. You could tell where the walls and doors would be. However, the man ran into another problem. While the lower levels were manageable, the higher he went the more he realized that he, by himself, would be insufficient to complete the job. His dream of constructing this cabin himself was only that, a dream. In other words, he needed help.

Too often we are like this man in a hypothetical story. We seek to do all sorts of things, including living the Christian life, by ourselves. Partly as a result of pride and partly as a result of our society (extreme individualism), we neglect the vital truth that the LORD gave concerning humanity, “It is not good for the man to be alone.” (Gen. 2:18).

As we consider walking in a manner worthy of the Gospel, as we contemplate what it means to be a Christian, and what it looks like to live a Christian life, we must acknowledge, as our text teaches us this morning, that we need each other. It is not good, in other words, for the Christian to be alone. We cannot, as the man illustrated for us this morning, build our cabins alone.

Besides the loneliness and accompanying problems that attend, and in spite of the failure to complete some tasks, we realize that we forfeit a joy that comes with being Christians together. We see that in our passage this morning. We see that we can have joy in coworkers of the Gospel. With that said, we must not neglect the assembling of ourselves together (Heb. 10:25).

I. Joy in life-giving Coworkers- Philippians 2:19-25

Philippians 2:19–25 ESV

I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also. 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,

We notice first that there is joy in life-giving coworkers. We will speak more about this in a moment, but just to give you an idea, these people give you life. It is like that first sip of coffee when it hits your lips in the morning. It gives you life. These people are encouraging, spiritual coffee.

Now, he mentions two people by name, Timothy and Epaphroditus. Timothy appears first, and we will deal with him in that order.

Timothy was a young man that Paul met during his missionary work recorded in Acts 16:1-5,

Acts 16:1–5 ESV

Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.

We see from the get-go that Timothy was a remarkable young man. He was a believer, converted through his grandmother and mother’s ministry (see 2 Tim. 1:5). He demonstrated excellent character “well spoken of by the brothers.” Timothy was also concerned with the Gospel.

I say this because Luke records that Timothy was circumcised. Why is this important? Well, Timothy’s father was Greek (and it seems not just ethnically, but religiously). When we compare Paul’s encouragement from 1 Cor. 9:19-23, we see that Timothy’s heart was to follow Paul’s by becoming all things to all people that he might win some.

Furthermore, Timothy was profitable for Paul’s ministry. Luke records “they went on their way,” and “the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.”

Timothy was a wonderful gift to the church. But he was also a sweet son to Paul. That is what Paul refers to him as, “my son in the faith” (1 Tim. 1:2). In our passage we learn several more aspects about Timothy that help us see that we can have joy in life-giving coworkers.

A. Life-giving coworkers demonstrate genuine charity- Phil. 2:19-21

Philippians 2:19–21 ESV

I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

Paul speaks highly of Timothy, and one of the reasons is because Timothy demonstrated genuine charity. Charity is love, and one of the marks of love is a focus on others. We learn this from 1 Cor. 13:5. Paul says Timothy “will show genuine concern for your welfare.” He is concerned for you.

This seems almost self-proving, but is it not life-giving when people demonstrate genuine charity for us? That is, they genuinely care for us? Do you people know that you love them, or do they feel used? These are questions we must constantly ask ourselves because sin is deceitful and our flesh is self-serving.

B. Life-giving coworkers love the Lord Jesus- Phil. 2:21

Philippians 2:21 ESV

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

Timothy loved the Lord Jesus. He demonstrated by his thoughts, speech, and action. He “looked to the interests of Christ.” What does Paul mean by this?

I want you to try and remember the Lord’s Prayer from Matthew 6:9-13. The second petition Jesus teaches us to pray is, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” In other words, may your interests be done in my life and on earth.

Timothy was here to do Christ’s work, not to execute his own agenda and plan. We need to be like Timothy. Far too often we find ourselves attempting to build our kingdoms rather than being used by God to spread His. Think about how churches can be guilty of this. We host events, bring speakers in, engage in programs, but ultimately we leave out the question, “Is this God’s will?”

When people live for Jesus is gives us life, it gives us joy. We are encouraged, challenged, and offered many ways that we can praise the Lord for His working in their lives.

C. Life-giving coworkers are dependable- Phil. 2:22

Philippians 2:22 ESV

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

Paul could depend on Timothy. He had a track record of faithfulness. We all know people who say “I’ll do that!” but never do. We have all experienced waiting at the restaurant for that friend who says “I’ll be there.” It saps the life out of us and replaces it with frustration, does it not?

But life-giving coworkers bring us joy because they are dependable. If they say they will be there, they will be there. If they say they will do a task, they will do it well. In my time as a manager at Walmart, I can tell you that our associates who were dependable were life-giving. In a greater way, believers who are dependable are life-giving.

Many of you faithfully come to church week-in and week-out, and I tell you that is life-giving to me.

D. Life-giving coworkers love the Church- Phil. 2:23-24

Philippians 2:23–24 ESV

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

The last section on Timothy and life-giving coworkers presents the Church, capital ‘C,’ to our minds. Paul wanted to send the Philippians Timothy to help shepherd them. While he wanted to wait and see how his own predicament was going, he desired to share Timothy with those dear brothers and sisters.

Now, I want you to note that Timothy was willing to go. Paul knew this, and this demonstrated a love for the Church. While we want to see Warrior Creek grow and become healthier and helpful, we should never do so at the detriment of the church at large, the capital C Church.

Think about our brothers and sisters all over this county. As we seek to walk in a manner worthy of the Gospel, we need to display a love, not for just this church, but for the Church! Timothy was willing to go where Paul sent him to minister to the church.

While we are not all heading to the mission field, I have great news. We live in the mission field! It does not matter that there is a church on every single street corner, or two or three. There are lost people, hurting people in Gray Court. Where will you go?

The Church, all over the world, needs us. They need our prayers, they need our support. What are we doing to help them? You see, there is joy in life-giving coworkers because they demonstrate genuine charity, they love the Lord Jesus, they are dependable, and they love the Church. That brings life and joy into any heart of a child of God!

Can these describe us? Would people say that we are life-giving coworkers?

We move on to the second of Paul’s two coworkers, Epaphroditus.

II. Joy in Sacrificial Coworkers- Philippians 2:25-30

Philippians 2:25–30 ESV

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, for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 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. I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.

Paul fills the Philippian church, familiar as they were with Epaphroditus from Paul’s work, on Epaphroditus’ condition. The Philippians sent Epaphroditus to Paul for his aid (cf. present passage “your messenger and minister to my need”, and 4:18). During that time of ministry, however, Epaphroditus became seriously ill, almost dying. What is ironic, however, is Epaphroditus was concerned about the Philippians!

It reminds me of my grandmother, my Maw Maw B, who regardless of how uncomfortable or pain she had, always focused on everyone else.

That is the essence of sacrifice, is it not? Being concerned not with one’s self, but with others? Epaphroditus was concerned with Paul and with the Philippians in several ways.

A. Sacrificial Coworkers are service-oriented

Notice how Epaphroditus operated: he always thought of serving others. He wanted to minister to Paul. He wanted to relieve the saints at Philippi. He wanted to serve Christ, up to the point of death.

Sacrificial coworkers that bring us joy are service-oriented. What is remarkable is that the Lord has gifted each of us, and has given us certain personalities and even quirks, to minister for Him. The questions remains: to what has God called me? and am I serving?

B. Sacrificial Coworkers are essential

Now, with the pandemic of COVID-19 the word essential has received a great amount of attention. But the truth is, we have joy in sacrificial coworkers because they are essential! The body of Christ needs people like Epaphroditus. His potential death was what Paul called “sorrow upon sorrow.”

Likewise the church was “distressed.” They were in anguish at the news of Epaphroditus’ illness. Why? Not because of his money or prestige, though those were the things that were important to Philippian society. No, it was because he was a sacrificial coworker necessary for the work of ministry. Besides your presence in the pew, can someone point to you and say, “she is essential.” Or, “he is essential.” We need to earnestly ask ourselves this question.

C. Sacrificial Coworkers have a John 3:30 mindset

We see this sprinkled throughout verses 25-30 in these phrases:

“God had mercy on him”

“receive him in the Lord”

“for he nearly died for the work of Christ”

In other words, Epaphroditus’ life shouted, “He must increase, but I must decrease!”

This is such a boost to true joy. When people build their own kings, live for their own desires and wants, or when churches do this, we draw back with disgust.

But when people are humble, we admire them. And when people have a John 3:30 mindset, we are moved to worship God for His goodness. It brings joy, and spreads it throughout the body of Christ.

How many of us know the names of missionaries like Hudson Taylor, Adoniram Judson, David Livingstone, David Brainerd, John Marrant, and others because they had a John 3:30 mindset.

Oh, how we need this mindset today! As we live our lives in obedience to present our bodies as living sacrifices, we must do so with a John 3:30 mindset! Let Christ increase, let His kingdom advance, let His character take over each vestige of ours, and let us decrease.