Finding Faithful Friends Series

Finding Faithful Friends

Philippians 2:19-30

Rev. Brian Bill

March 1-2, 2025

People get mixed up on my name all the time. Some simply call me “Bill” and I’ve even been called “Brain,” though I’m not sure where that one comes from. When I’m called “Mr. Bill,” people around my age think of his sidekick “Sluggo” and start laughing. Here’s a picture of my dad and my grandpa proudly displaying their “Mr. Bill” t-shirts.

I like to joke that having three first names (Brian John Bill) means that when people say my name, three guys come running. I tell people not to worry if they get my name wrong because it happens all the time. To help you remember which name is my last name, the Bill Family grew up on William Street. You’re welcome.

Our galaxy alone has 200 billion stars, and there are billions of galaxies. Astronomers can’t even count all the stars, much less give names to them. Isaiah 40:26 tells us God notices and names each one because He created them: “Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name; by the greatness of His might and because He is strong in power, not one is missing.”

Here’s a mind-blowing thought: God knows the names of every star and He knows the names of every person on planet earth, in every country, language and tribe. Isaiah 43:1 says, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”

It has been said that an individual is fortunate if they have five good friends in their lifetime. In his book, “What Americans Believe,” George Barna writes, “Americans are among the loneliest people on earth.” Maybe it’s because of our fast-paced society or our rugged American individualism but many of us struggle to find friends. We saw this phenomenon clearly in the 1990s when the most popular television shows like “Seinfeld” and “Friends” were about groups of friends trying to find their way together. The theme music for “Cheers” emphasized how we like going to a place where everyone knows our name.

Sometimes we think that God is only concerned with spiritual matters. The truth of the matter is this: Jesus Christ died in our place, not only to restore our relationship with God, but also to firm up our friendships with other people. In fact, the Bible has just as much to say about interpersonal relationships as it does about theology and doctrine.

As Beth and I have been reading the Bible together using the Edgewood Bible Reading Plan, we’ve been struck by how many names are listed in the Book of Genesis. We’re determined to read each name out loud, even though we know we’re slaughtering the pronunciation. We figure each of these individuals matter enough that God put their names in the Bible, so we don’t want to skip over them. Aren’t you glad God doesn’t skip over you, even if you have three first names?

A college freshman sent an email to his dad to let him know he needed some money: “Dear Dad, I’m 100 miles from home, I’m flat broke and I have no friends, what should I do?” The dad wrote back: “Dear son, make some new friends.”

Here’s our main idea: To grow in faithfulness, make some faithful friends.

We all need friends who will sharpen us by giving us advice and counsel. Proverbs 27:9 says: “Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.” Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” Speaking of Iron Sharpens Iron, there are ISI conferences coming up for men on March 22 and for women on April 12.

I find it interesting that the Bible lists over 3,000 people by name. The Apostle Paul mentions at least 76 people by name in his writings. Amazingly, he lists 29 individuals by name in the sixteenth chapter of Romans alone, and he had never been to this church before, and he didn’t have Facebook to help him!

In our celebrity culture, most of our role models are those who have achieved success in music, sports, or acting. In our passage for today, we’re given two role models who are very down to earth. Two names that consistently make the top of Paul’s “friend list” are Timothy and Epaphroditus.

Timothy Was an Unselfish Servant

In Philippians 2:19-24, Paul expresses his high regard for Timothy as he holds him up as an example of an unselfish servant: “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.”