Scripture Introduction
As a society, our taste in heroes has changed. A few years ago, researchers asked two thousand eighth-graders to name prominent people they admired and wanted to be like. After the results were published, a columnist for the Chicago Daily News, Sidney Harris, lamented the fact that every one of the 30 prominent personalities named was either an entertainer or an athlete. Unlike earlier years, statesmen, authors, painters, musicians, architects, doctors, and other such leaders no longer captured the imagination of young people. Harris concluded: “the heroes and heroines created by our society are people who have made it big, not necessarily people who have done big things.”
This morning God tells us about two heroes worthy of honor and imitation, two men who, liked Jim Elliott, risked what they could not keep, to gain what they could not lose.
[Read Philippians 2.19-30. Pray.]
Introduction
William Bennett, one time U.S. Education Secretary and author of the best-seller The Book of Virtues, said: “It is particularly important for young people to have heroes. This is a way to teach them by moral example, so that we can point to someone as an ideal.”
Mr. Bennett is surely correct, but I would add that it is important for all of us to have godly heroes. It seems we are already hard-wired to imitate those we look up to. We see this in advertising and endorsements. Some NFL players are required by contract to wear the baseball-style hats when they remove their helmets—because when kids see Peyton Manning in a Colts hat, sales increase dramatically. We will chose heroes; will we choose well?
Donald Carson, Basics for Believers: An Exposition of Philippians, 72: “[Paul] is concerned to establish and reinforce good models. He is not stooping to cheap flattery of his colleagues…. His aim is to provide clear Christian examples that younger and less-experienced Christians ought to emulate. For if they do not have such models, or if they are not encouraged to follow them, they are likely to follow poor or misleading or even dangerous examples.”
The Christians in Philippi care deeply about their own needs; they fear the loss of comfort; they argue and bicker with one other and refuse to follow Jesus into the depths of humility. So their pastor, the Apostle Paul writes this letter (like all Scripture) to teach, correct, reprove, and train in righteousness with clear doctrine showing forth the glories of Christ and the standards of faithful obedience.
Let’s remember what Paul has said so far. He began the letter with a reminder of his love and of his prayers as he exhorts this church to follow Christ. Then he assured the Philippians that he rejoices, even while suffering for the gospel, because his joy flows from following Jesus. In fact, Paul says, suffering for the sake of Christ is a gracious gift of God! That amazing claim ends chapter one.
Of course, suffering does not always mean imprisonment. Humility brings the suffering of crushed pride and death to self, and that provides the transition into chapter two, as the Apostle pleads with these brothers and sisters to adopt a radically other-oriented outlook on life: “do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” Jesus both models this behavior and reaps the rewards—he suffered the humiliation and misery of the cross, and God exalted him above every name!
Now Jesus’ attitude and actions should change our lives: “Therefore, my beloved… work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for God is working in you. And let these good works be done with a good attitude, without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted culture.”
So Paul has focused on two character traits which need nurturing in this church: 1) humble, other-oriented service and 2) joyful faithfulness in hardship. Then in a moment of inspiration, God reminds Paul that two shining examples stand before him. Timothy, the pastor Paul sent to them, and Epaphroditus, the missionary they sent to Paul. Two living examples of salvation worked out into character and action, two heroes for young Christians to imitate. First, Timothy shows us that…
1. We Should Imitate Other-oriented Heroes (Philippians 2.19-24)
As with everyone in the Bible, Timothy had flaws; he was not the perfect pastor. Yet of all the men that Paul could send to Philippi, Timothy made an ideal choice because he excelled in the very thing they lacked: humble, other-oriented service. This character trait was revealed in three specific ways which make him worthy of emulation.
First, verse 20, Timothy is “genuinely concerned for [the Philippians’] welfare.” That does not mean, of course, that the young pastor always said and did what the Philippians wanted. Like every faithful shepherded, he did what was best for the people. Later Paul will writes two letters to guide Timothy in his pastoral ministry. In those, he will remind this young man to preach the Word, to run the race with perseverance, to suffer for the gospel, and to warn those who are perishing of the need for repentance. In other words, in his personal life, his preaching, and his pastoral ministry, Timothy will not do what his flesh desires, but what the Spirit demands. Why? Because he cares for the Philippians’ well-being, not his own popularity.
Second, notice in verse 21 that Timothy seeks to advance the “interests…of Jesus Christ.” His agenda does not derive from his own fears or need to be appreciated, but from his love for Jesus. This does not mean that he has no agenda. The faithful pastor better have an agenda, or an ungodly and unbiblical agenda will always be pressed upon the church. There is no neutrality in a fallen world! A leader without an agenda is not leading. Timothy’s agenda is advancing the kingdom of Jesus. He seeks to promote the cause of Christ, to preach the word of Christ, and to counsel the person of Christ! And just as it is rare in our day, so Paul recognizes the rarity of this trait in his own time: Philippians 1.21a: “They all seek their own interests….” The world reeks of people who look out for themselves, who, “prefer their own credit, ease, and safety, before truth, holiness, and duty” (Matthew Henry). We need heroes who have been delivered from bondage to self-obsession, who are free to live in self-forgetfulness, who delight to serve others while counting them more significant than themselves. Timothy’s passion was that Jesus be honored.
Third, the Philippians should imitate this young man because he is (verse 22) of “proven worth, as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.” Timothy has been tested often and consistently remains faithful to the Gospel. Additionally, he knows how to work with people. He can defer to those older and wiser, and he willingly cooperates with leadership for the cause of the Kingdom. He does not insist on being independent or in charge. Paul has been like a father to Timothy, and Timothy has not resented it. Many young people are too proud to submit to leadership, to work with others, to defer with grace and humility.
In summary, Timothy’s faith is worth imitating because 1) he is not concerned with his own welfare, but that of the church he serves; 2) he does not push his own agenda, but Christ’s; and 3) he serves not his own desires, but the gospel under Paul’s fatherly leadership. He is a hero for the church.
Since few people seem to have godly Christian heroes, maybe it would help to consider three reasons to do so.
First, the Bible says to. Here (obviously), but others texts also reminds us to imitate those who follow Christ.
Second, the struggle with sin is strenuous. The world, the flesh, and the devil conspire together to turn us from the path of life. We need heroes who demonstrate victory over temptation.
Third, the fight of faith is difficult. Putting on godliness without self-righteousness tests the bravest of people. We need models of humble, other-oriented service in the cause of Christ. Let us seek such examples of faith lived to the glory of God. Now as wonderful as Timothy is, the Philippians have another hero whose faith they can follow. Epaphroditus shows us that…
2. We Should Imitate Life-risking Heroes (Philippians 2.25-30)
Apparently, Epaphroditus volunteered to deliver a financial gift to Paul in jail, and with it minister to his needs. Travel in those days was dangerous, and nearly the worst struck this man. He was taken ill and almost died.
But he now has recovered enough to return to Philippi, and Paul commends this brother for his ministry. We cannot be sure, but it seems likely that his illness prevented him from doing all for Paul that was expected, possibly opening him to the charge of failure. So Paul wants to assure the Philippians that such was not the case; in fact, just the opposite—Epaphroditus served above and beyond the call of duty, making him worthy of honor and imitation. Three traits were especially significant.
First, he is a brother. Epaphroditus does not serve like an employee, doing his duty but not caring about the outcome. This was not just a job; he treated fellow Christians as family. He cared for Paul, wanted to comfort and cheer him, drew close as only a dear relative can.
Second, he is a fellow-worker, a man who labored hard in the work of ministry. Dr. James Boice observes that Christians today are often lazy. We have lost our “intellectual and cultural dynamic,” and we need to again become “a working church,” by working harder intellectually, socially, and especially evangelistically. On this last point, Boice said: “We need to work with renewed vigor in the area of evangelism…. People are not flocking to churches today, even when they are welcome. Many will not even enter a Christian church. So if they are to be won, we must win them individually. You must win them, and you must do it on a one-to-one basis. You must make friends with those who are not real believers. You must come to know their problems. And you must be ready to apply Christian truths to them.” Epaphroditus did just that! That does not imply that he had all the answers; he worked with Paul to advance the gospel.
Third, he is a fellow soldier. The Christian life is a battle, one in which “we wrestle… against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil” (Ephesians 6.12). Epaphroditus did not cower or hide from the fight; he stood shoulder to shoulder in the war. “So,” writes Paul, “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.”
Whose faith do you follow? Whom do you honor? Who are your heroes, women and men of whom the world is not worthy of them, but they are worthy of our imitation? Will you find someone zealous for the cause of Christ, who cares more for the needs of God’s people than his or her own, who serves faithfully through hardship, who loves Jesus?
I tried to think of why so few Christians today have heroes like Timothy and Epaphroditus. Maybe we consider them unnecessary, or maybe they are too few. But two other reasons came to mind.
First, I wonder if we are too concerned with worldly success to search out godly examples. Men like these make us uncomfortable; they press us to change; they force us to reevaluate our lives. Maybe we prefer to avoid that.
Second, I wonder if our relationships are too shallow. We judge people superficially and quickly, so those who might be true examples cannot pass our tests. We seem to focus on flaws and dismiss people, rather than see their strengths and imitate those. We like a comfortable distance from people.
A hero should be someone you can know well enough to really see into their lives. A superficial knowledge will not work. Additionally, it should be someone whose life makes you uncomfortable. Someone who challenges your thoughts, your attitudes, and your actions. Timothy and Epaphroditus fulfilled those requirements for the Philippians. Who will do so for us?
3. Conclusion
In 1947, Thor Heyerdahl and five companions sailed from Peru on a crude boat made of balsa logs held together by hemp rope. Heyerdahl believed Polynesia was settled in pre-Columbian times by native South Americans. Using pictures drawn by Spanish Conquistadores, the Kon-Tiki expedition made a raft with the construction techniques of people indigenous to that time and place in order to sail exactly as they would have. They spent 101 days in the Pacific Ocean, covering more than 4,300 miles before arriving at the Tuamotu Islands on August 7, 1947. Heyerdahl’s book describing the experience, Kon-Tiki: Across the Pacific in a Raft, was a bestseller and the documentary film won an Academy Award in 1951. A museum in Oslo displays the raft-boat.
In the book, Heyerdahl explains that they had little ability to steer and no way to stop the raft’s forward progress. Early in the voyage they discovered that things dropped overboard could not be recovered once they passed behind the raft because the current carried them forward faster than what was lost.
Two months into the voyage and thousands of miles from land, the unthinkable happened. Herman Watzinger lost his footing and fell overboard. The raft, driven by a strong wind in heavy seas, moved ahead faster than he could swim, though he tried valiantly to catch up. Every attempt to throw him a life preserver was blown back by stiff winds. Watzinger would soon drown in the wild waves and the five remaining men could do nothing by stare in horror.
Suddenly Knute Haugland grabbed the life belt and dove into the water. He swam back to Watzinger and wrapped his arms tightly around his exhausted friend while the rest of crew back on the raft pulled them back by the rope tied to the life preserver. All six men landed in Polynesia alive.
That story illustrates something about evangelism and something from our text. We are safe on the raft while people drown. Effective evangelism requires risk for the work of Christ. Haugland risked his life to save Watzinger. Epaphroditus risked his life for the work of Christ.
If we want ease and comfort, it is possible to avoid many problems by cultivating an insignificant life. We can shun ambition, keep our vision small and our hopes and dreams feeble, seek to influence few people.
Paul Borthwick, Leading the Way, 86: “Tiny souls can dodge through life; bigger souls are blocked on every side. As soon as a man begins to enlarge his life, his resistances are multiplied. Let a man remove his petty selfish purposes and enthrone Christ, and his sufferings will be increased on every side.”
Sir Frances Drake: “Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves, when our dreams have come true because we have dreamed too little, when we arrive safely because we have sailed too close to the shore. Disturb us, Lord, when with the abundance of things we possess, we have lost our thirst for the waters of life; having fallen in love with life, we have ceased to dream of eternity; and in our efforts to build a new earth, we have allowed our vision of the new Heaven to dim. Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly, to venture on wider seas where storms will show your mastery; where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars. We ask you to push back the horizons of our hopes; and to push into the future in strength, courage, hope, and love.”
Drake prays, not for a life of ease, but one of significance. Is that what you want? Is that what you have? Maybe some of us do not because we risk nothing for the work of Christ.
