Philippians 2:19-30 May 4, 2008
Examples of Love
Very personal, business like, practical section – why not just skip over it?
I think it has a few things to teach us
2 things first
1 – apologetics – I love these very practical passages – they remind me that this stuff is real – it is not someone sitting down and trying to be “spiritual”
I remember reading about Tom Harpur’s “The Pagan Christ” where he puts forward the idea that Jesus as we have him was not a real person – the stories might be based on a real person, but they are an amalgamation of eastern mystical myths creating a new Gnostic religion.
At the same time I was reading through the Gospel of Luke. Right at the beginning of Chapter 8, just before the parable of the sower, Luke writes, “After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.” And I thought to myself – “If Luke is trying to create a new, Gnostic religion out of old Egyptian and Persian myths, why on earth does he mention these women, and why does he let us know that they helped support Jesus and his disciples out of their own means?”
2 - Paul was not a lone wolf
often times we have this picture of Paul as this solitary traveler who showed up in town like Clint Eastwood and preached the Gospel fearlessly. This was not true – he always had at least one person with him, and many times, he had many more people traveling with him and ministering with him.
Christianity is a faith that comes in community and requires community to be expressed in its fullest.
Overview of Philippians 1:27-2:18
Go through what Paul has taught in Philippians 1:27-2:18
As citizens of heaven, life lives worthy of the Gospel
Stand firm in unity
- be like minded, have the same love, be one in the Spirit & one mind
- do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit
- look after others first
Be like Jesus! – not grasping at power, Obedient
Don’t grumble or argue…
How is it going with that? – get people to share
He teaches it – then sends two examples!
Epaphroditus –I’m going to talk about the second example first.
Paul is sending them a man named Epaphroditus. He would likely carry this letter back to them. It appears that the Philippian Christians had sent Epaphroditus to Paul with money to support Paul while he was in prison. While he was with Paul, Epaphroditus became deathly ill – Paul was worried for him, and the folks back home were worried for him.
Paul says that If Epaphroditus had succumbed to his illness that it would have added sorrow upon sorrow to him. And although Epaphroditus had been sent to Paul to stay and help him, Paul thought that it was more important to send him back so that they could no longer worry for their friend.
Paul – whether purposefully or not has given a great example of the love that is supposed to exist in the Christian community
The concern for the other that is supposed to be present – both Paul’s and the Philippians’ concern for Epaphroditus.
Paul sees that the Philippians’ need to see Epaphroditus well and in good health was more important that the help that Epaphroditus was providing to Paul – Paul himself was putting their emotional needs over his very practical needs! Their hearts were more important than any tasks that had to be accomplished!
This is the way that we are to be with each other.
Timothy
From what we know of Timothy, we can see that he often came across as nervous and unsure of himself
In Paul’s first letter to Timothy he has to remind him:
Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. 1 Timothy 4:12-14
In his second letter, he says
I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:5-7
We aren’t told what the gift is that Timothy is supposed to stir up – it may have something to do with public speaking or leadership – prophesied over him, but not come to fruition because of his timidity.
Paul doesn’t commend Timothy to the Christians in Philippi because of all the things that we might look for in a leader – vision, teaching ability, passion, charisma, he doesn’t even mention that Timothy is a devout and holy man (although he most likely is): what he mentions is that he will truly care for them! What qualifies Timothy is his love for the people!
Timothy is living proof that Paul actually believes what he wrote to the Corinthians: 1 Corinthians 13
1 If I speak in human or angelic tongues, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body [to hardship] that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. …
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
It may be said that Timothy does not have all these great “flashy” gifts that Paul speaks of – tongues, prophesy, great intellect, martyrdom… But he has the greater thing – he has love. He actually cares for people!
This seems to be a rare quality, because Paul says, that in contrast, everyone else is more interested in looking after their own interests
When looking for leaders – before all the talents, abilities and gifts that they might need, we must ask the question, do they have love – will they care for the people
You have a call on your life for some type of ministry – every Christian does. – you may be holding back because you think that you lack the gifts, the talents the abilities. The real question is – will you love the people that God has called you to minister with? The good thing is that you can work on the gaining the love – pray, and act in loving ways
Conclusion
