Good Anxiety - Philippians 2:19-21 Series

Philippians 2:19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 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. 23 I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. 24 And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.

Introduction

God’s Design: Learn through Imitation

Most of what we learn, we learn through imitation. That is how you learned to talk, and to walk, and most everything else in life. Coaches don’t usually teach players technique in a classroom. They are out there on the field or on the court. They explain the principle, then they say, “Here, let me show you…” A teenager says, “I want independence. I don’t want to just accept everything mom and dad say anymore. I want to start thinking for myself and being my own person!” But most of the time what that ends up meaning is instead of copying mom and dad, now he is going to start copying his friends. He wants to be unique and different, so he copies someone he sees as unique and different. We can’t help it – God designed us this way. God designed us to learn by imitation.

1 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me.

Hebrews 6:12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

Hebrews 13:7 Remember your leaders … and imitate their faith.

1 Corinthians 11:1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

And we see that here in Philippians.

Philippians 3:17 Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.

Sometimes the question, “What would Jesus do?” is hard to answer. In some situations it’s obvious, but there are other times where we say, “I’m not sure exactly what Jesus would do here because there is no written record of Jesus ever being in a situation like this.” And when that happens, sometimes it really helps to just think of some really godly, spiritually mature person that you know who does especially well in these kinds of situations and ask, “What would he do if he were here?”

That is God’s design, and I say all that because of where we are in our study through the book of Philippians. If you are new here, we are working our way through the book, and we are in the second half of chapter 2 where Paul gives us three real-life examples of what he has been teaching.

He has been teaching all about unity in the church, and not being selfish – considering others’ interests ahead of our own. And now that he has explained it, he is like the coach on the field: “Here, let me show you,” and he gives these three examples. Some people think this section is just Paul getting the Philippians up to speed on his travel plans, and that’s all it is. I don’t buy that, because most of the words are not about his plans, but about these men’s character. If I asked Josiah to deliver a package to you, I wouldn’t call you up and say, “I’m sending Josiah over with the package, and I have no one else like him. He takes a genuine interest in your affairs. Everyone else is concerned only about their own affairs but you know Josiah has proved himself. Honor men like him…” There is a reason why Paul is going into all that detail about their character.

Plus, the wording Paul uses is the same wording he used earlier when he was teaching us the principle about unity and not being selfish.

Look back at verse 4.

Philippians 2:4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Then look how he describes Timothy in verse 20: Here’s a real literal translation: I have no one like him, who genuinely has anxiety over your interests. 21 for everyone seeks his own interests and not the interests of Jesus Christ. So Paul commands us to be a certain way, and then he says, “Let me tell you about Timothy…” and then describes how Timothy does that exact thing. So this is more than a report about travel plans. These are examples laid out for us to follow.