Unselfishness, Part 1
Philippians 2v19-24
14th June 2024
Philippians 2v19-24
I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered
when I receive news about you.
I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare.
For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
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.
I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.
And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.
Paul was in a Roman prison, and in danger of immanent execution, but his thoughts were not for himself. He wanted to know how the Christians in Philippi were doing. He wanted to be assured that, as he urged them in verses 14-15a, they would "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault". He hoped to send his dear friend Timothy, whom he called "My true son in the faith" (1 Timothy 1v2) to them. Thus, he was willing to live without perhaps his most valued co-worker, at his own time of need. Paul truly loved his fellow-Christians.
Paul commends Timothy to the Philippian church with the words, "I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare.". That was a lovely thing to say about Timothy, but a devastating thing to say about Paul's other co-workers. he said of those others, "everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ."
We should remember that we don't know which of Paul's associates were with him when he wrote this letter. This description may not apply to all - or, perhaps, any - of the people mentioned in scripture. Nevertheless, this passage reminds us very forcefully that a church leader is called by God to show genuine concern for the welfare of the people whom God has placed under his care, and that it is unacceptable to God for any church leader to [look] out for [his]own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
This reminds me that a church leader must be God's choice, and must be full of agape - sacrificial love. We leaders are not here to promote ourselves, or to build little empires for ourselves, or to become wealthy off the giving of church members. We are here to serve.
Paul continues to commend Timothy, saying, "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." Timothy was faithful, dutiful and teachable. He was, indeed, a servant of God, of the Gospel, and of the churches.
Paul was aware that, just as he yearned for news of the Philippians, so they would be yearning for news about him. For this reason, he didn't send Timothy to them straight away. Instead, he thoughtfully assured them, "I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me." They would be praying for him to be released, so he could visit them again, and so he could resume his apostolic ministry. When you know people are concerned for you, and are praying for you, it's a valuable kindness to keep them as informed, as up-to-date, as you can.
And, although humanly speaking he knew he was in danger of being killed very soon, he assured his Christian friends, "I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon." We can only think that the Holy Spirit must have given Paul assurance that he would be delivered from this danger, as he had been delivered from so many other dangers. God is able to speak to us in this way, helping us to trust him in our trials.
It must, nevertheless, be remembered that, not many years later, Paul would, indeed, be executed for the crime of preaching the Gospel. God has chosen the date of your death, and he will preserve you until that time. More than that, He will assure you of His protection, if you will seek Him in prayer.
Until the day appointed by God for our departure from this earth, let us continue to show unselfish love to our brothers and sisters in Christ, and to our neighbours, for the sake of the glory of God.