Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus are commended by God in Scripture for sincere service. We’ll be exalted by the Spirit, if we give ourselves likewise, even to the death!

First, sincere people who serve are useful and rewarded. Philippians 2:19-23, “But you know Timothy’s proven character, because he has served with me in the gospel ministry like a son with a father. Therefore, I hope to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.” The greatest way to exaltation is humbling yourself to serve others. You'll have the joy, power, and peace of the Holy Spirit.

We must recognize that joy is not from man; it comes from God who gives us all things richly to enjoy! It's from his goodness, tenderness, love and mercy. As we honor Christ, we feel the Spirit's power, commune with Christ, and have all things. Sincere service is the secret to happiness. Let us concentrate on this, not what man sees. Let's seek no approval or favor from man. Take everything - pain, sorrow, or comfort - from the Lord Jesus, as He gives. Let's only be concerned about serving Him, which is doing His will from the heart. He will bless us with blessings that no man can stop. They don't come from man, but God!

Secondly, we can have sorrow upon sorrow. Vs27, “Indeed Epaphroditus 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.” God can send us many trials. This is not an easy race, and we have to lean on the Holy Spirit. There’s no possibility of us making it ourselves. We have to lean on God to work powerfully inside us.

He knows what we need, and He knows what is best. He pushed Paul to the edge, but never too much! There’s never a circumstance that He hasn’t accounted for in His love. His wisdom is too great to err, and He’s never boxed in. Absolute sovereignty means that He controls it all, even chastisement.

Paul is in prison suffering, but God gives healing to Epaphroditus. Paul obviously couldn’t heal him instantly, and many problems linger that we can’t cancel! We can’t decree them away. We can’t just wish upon a star, nor can we move them by our will. Wait on God to be gracious to you. Repent of sin. Serve Him, and watch Him do wonders. If the pain must endure, then He’ll give the Spirit. If relief is coming, then thank Him and respond in love. Paul sent Epaphroditus to serve the Philippians, because he was so happy that he was doing well. He pulled him out of his heart and gave him to Philippi, so he could rejoice in their comfort, and thus help himself! Vs28, “Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful.” Blessed God. Paul put the needs of others first, and this is the proper response to the gospel.

Be more Christ-like, dear saints. More and more!

Thirdly, put your back into the gospel. vs29-30, “Therefore, welcome him in the Lord with all joy and hold men like him in honor, because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up what was lacking in your ministry to me.” Serve unreservedly and wholeheartedly. Epaphroditus was “close to death,” but he kept going. He didn’t look for an easy life: he wanted to serve! Likewise, do not look after your own interest but the things of others [Phil 2:4]. Don’t ask for comfort and ease. Ask what you can do for Christ and maximize yourself, so that you might gain.

Zealous service got Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus honor; it is what made Judas and Silas useful in Acts 15. Zealous service is the best for all of us. Acts 15:25-27, “We have unanimously decided to select men and send them to you along with our dearly loved Barnabas and Paul, who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who will personally report the same things by word of mouth.” The more that we lose our life, the more we gain. The more we addict ourselves to serving Christ, the more joy we get, as the Holy Spirit ministers assurance and peace. The more that we walk in the Spirit, beating back the flesh, the more that we commune with God our Savior. In short, the more we give, we actually gain.

We’re living in a soft age where suffering for Christ is reduced to many petty complaints and grumblings against the “culture”. It is no longer envogue to suffer as a missionary, so legions are left to perish, while we sit fat in the USA. We need more zealous people like George Whitefiled, who surrendered himself to martyrdom at his ordination. He said, “I can call heaven and earth to witness, that when the Bishop laid his hand upon me, I gave myself up to be a martyr for him, who hung upon the cross for me.”

It is true, if we are Christian, that we don’t love our life, even unto death [Rev 12:11]. Let us live this way: hazarding ourselves and risking ourselves for Christ. We’re not doing too much. We’ll gain!