The Work of Christ (Philippians 2:25–30, ESV)
"I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, 26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, 30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.
This is how Paul described about the church at Philippi: “In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people.” (2 Corinthians 8:2–4, ESV)
The Philippian church was going through a severe trial of affliction and was also suffering from extreme poverty. Nevertheless, they were filled with joy and gave to others with a generous heart. They gave voluntarily, even beyond their means, and earnestly begged for the opportunity to share in helping the saints. How can we explain such a reality? Because their hearts were filled with Christ, they lived the life of heaven even in the midst of great trials and poverty. They lived lives that revealed the love of Christ.
Also, in Philippians 1:3, the apostle Paul says that he gives thanks to God every time he remembers the Philippian believers and always prays for them with joy. Why? In verse 5, he says it is because they have been "partners in the gospel from the first day until now," and in verse 7, he adds that whether Paul is in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of them share in God’s grace with him. That is why Paul always remembers them with thanksgiving and joy when he prays for them.
But think about how extensively Paul traveled throughout the continents of Europe and Asia for his evangelistic mission. In those days, there was no internet, no phone, no telegrams—not even a functioning postal system like we have today. So how could the believers know where Paul was? Probably Paul did his best to send news of himself, but the Philippian believers also made every effort to find out how Paul was doing and continued to help him.
Of course, not every church was like the Philippian church. Paul himself confesses that when he left Macedonia, the only church that partnered with him in giving and receiving was the Philippian church. (Philippians 4:15–16) Once again, the Philippians had discovered Paul’s situation as he suffered in prison and sent generous support along with Epaphroditus. Paul says, “I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied.” (Philippians 4:18)
Now think about Epaphroditus. He left behind his family and work, crossing mountains and seas to travel 700 miles on a dangerous journey to Rome. But why did the Philippian church send only one person on such a perilous journey? Perhaps because they were so poor that they decided to save on travel expenses and instead send more financial support to Paul. Epaphroditus did not go on this long and harsh journey to a vacation destination for rest and enjoyment. He went to bring the offering to Paul, who was imprisoned and suffering, and to ease his pain and care for him. Unfortunately, somewhere along the way—or perhaps after arriving in Rome while caring for Paul—Epaphroditus became ill. Verse 27 says he was so sick he nearly died. Today, with antibiotics and advanced medical treatments, most illnesses can be cured. But 2,000 years ago, falling sick often meant a much higher chance of death. So God had mercy on him and healed him.
Why were the Philippian church and Epaphroditus able to continue showing such constant love, concern, and devoted care for Paul? Let’s go back to Philippians 1:3:
“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,
4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy,
5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
7 …you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.” (Philippians 1:3–7, ESV)
Paul is making it clear that it was not the Philippian church or Epaphroditus who began the good work in them, but God. God was the one working in the Philippian believers, causing them to desire to please Him and empowering them to act according to His will. (Philippians 2:13) That same God is also working in us today through the Holy Spirit, making us desire to please God and to carry it out.
In verse 26, it says that Epaphroditus, who had been caring for Paul, was “longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill.” He was not just mildly concerned—he was distressed. Instead of worrying about himself, he was deeply concerned about the church in Philippi. So in verse 28, Paul says he is “the more eager to send Epaphroditus” so that the believers might rejoice in seeing Epaphroditus again and that Paul’s own anxiety might also be eased.
Epaphroditus genuinely cared for Paul. That’s why Paul says Epaphroditus “nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.” (v. 30) Paul refers to what Epaphroditus did for him as “the work of Christ.”
Paul also says something similar about Timothy:
“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.” (Philippians 2:19–21, ESV)
Even in Timothy’s case, Paul defines “the work of Christ” as genuinely caring about the Philippian believers. Caring sincerely about the needs of other Christians is what Paul calls the work of Christ.
1. The Philippian church deeply cared for Paul, which is why they sent Epaphroditus. They also deeply worried when they heard that Epaphroditus was sick.
2. Epaphroditus risked his life to serve Paul, and though he was ill, he worried more about the Philippian believers who were concerned about him.
3. Paul worried about the Philippian church and Epaphroditus, who had fallen ill while helping him.
4. Timothy genuinely cared for the Philippians and planned to visit them.
All of them shared the heart of Christ, showing mutual care and concern. This is what it means to be filled with Christ and to do the work of Christ. From this, we hear a clear message: the work of Christ is not only evangelizing the unbelievers—it is also sincerely caring for and helping fellow believers. Whether I am doing Christ’s work or my own is revealed in how genuinely I care about other believers.
Yesterday, I decided to reduce the number of books in my shelf and began sorting through them. I quickly glanced through three diaries I had kept over the past 40 years and threw them away. However, I couldn’t throw away three letters that had been kept inside one of the diaries. Though the diaries contained important thoughts, those letters—expressions of care and love—were far more valuable to me.
One of them was a letter I received from a student before I left for the U.S. Let me read the beginning:
“I pray for you who has helped us grow in faith. Now that you are leaving for America, I thank the Lord, trusting that He will guard your steps. God, please don’t let our pastor forget us even in America. Grant him the ability to do Your work wherever he goes...”
However, despite this student’s heartfelt prayer, I can no longer remember who wrote it. Why did I forget the face and name of such a precious student? It’s simple—because I wasn’t truly interested. I claimed to be doing the Lord’s work, but in truth, I was pursuing my own. I might have fed the sheep, but I served not as a shepherd, but as a hired hand. Had I remembered that student’s prayer, prayed for them in return, and continued to care for them with love, I believe that student would have become a precious servant of the Lord—and I too would have grown into a more mature and sincere servant.
What is the reason Paul’s love, Timothy’s love, Epaphroditus’s love, and the Philippian church’s love still influence the world even after 2,000 years? It is because they did not pursue their own work, but the work of Christ.
The reason I cannot remember even the names or faces of the students I ministered to 40 years ago is not merely a matter of memory. It is because I undervalued those whom God allowed me to meet and did not truly care for or love them. I was a hired hand, not a shepherd with the heart of Christ. Just as the Apostle Paul lamented, “I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare,” I, too, failed to be genuinely concerned for their needs.
In Romans 16, even though Paul had never visited Rome, he lists the names of 26 believers there and asks the recipients to greet them—repeating this request 13 times. This shows that Paul cherished and remembered not only those he had met personally, but also those he had only heard about. He cared deeply for them all.
In fact, Paul confesses in Romans 1:9–11: “I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you.”
This is the work of Christ.
I may not have many years left on this earth, as I did 40 years ago, but I earnestly desire not to repeat the same mistakes of the past. I want to genuinely care for each person God allows me to know, and, for as long as I have a sound mind, to remember them, take interest in them, and pray for them.
I also hope that not only I but all of us would never underestimate the relationships we have with one another, and that we would become people who truly consider each other’s needs with sincerity. I hope we will become a community that always remembers one another in prayer.
Furthermore, may we remember and pray for those who are not with us here—those whom God once brought into our lives but who may seem to have strayed from the faith. May we show true concern and love for them, doing the work of Christ.
This is the life that resembles Christ, the life that considers others better than oneself. It is the life that works out salvation, grows spiritually, and discovers true joy. Most importantly, it is the life that prepares for the Day of the Lord.
Finally, listen to Paul’s prayer for the Philippian church, a community where people sincerely cared for one another: “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:9–11)
This clearly tells us that a life filled with love is a life that prepares for the Day of Christ and brings glory to God.
May Paul’s prayer for the Philippian church also be fulfilled in our church, so that we may abound more and more in love, carry out the work of the Lord, prepare for His coming, and glorify God. I bless you all in the name of Jesus.
