Messenger & Minister

"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, for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard he was ill. 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. I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. So 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." Philippians 2:25-29 ESV

Epaphroditus was  evidently a very fine servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is pictured here as being five (5) very important things in the heart of Paul: brother, fellow worker, fellow soldier, your messenger, your minister to me. The "brother" in all likely hood, is a brother in Christ, then he worked along side of Paul and was a fellow soldier in the cause of Christ. In addition to these things, he evidently was the one who brought Paul whatever supply the Philippians had recently sent. (4:10) So he had become a messenger from them to Paul and a minister to his needs. 


Now Paul is sending him back to the Philippians to ease their concern. They had heard he had been ill, and ill to the point of death. Paul says that was indeed true and that he had risked his life to fulfill what trust the Philippians had placed in him. Such faithfulness must be recognized and rewarded. So Paul wants them to know what an outstanding person he is. Their trust was well founded. 


We find in Epaproditus an example of outstanding integrity. He was entrusted with some sort of treasure or provision the Philippian church had sent for Paul's care while he was in confinement. In Rome, as in many countries today, the state did not pay for the needs of any prisoner. His friends and relatives were responsible to bring him food and clothes - whatever he needed. So we see the Philippians being a part of that needed provision. So in Paul's heart, Epaproditius was counted among the generals of the army of Christ! 


Lord, as we walk with you, teach us this kind of integrity. Thank you for empowering us to fulfill our appointed assignments with integrity and joy.