The testimony of Timothy

The testimony of Timothy

But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel.  – Philippians 2.19-22

Paul was blessed to have a few good men on his team. Two of them, Timothy and Epaphroditus are mentioned here. These men acted in several capacities. They took care of Paul. The preached. They did physical work. And sometimes they acted as Paul's eyes and ears to check on the churches.

Timothy was special to Paul. He was Paul's son in the faith. They worked side by side in the Lord's work.

We need to remember that Paul's letters, when he wrote them, we teaching letters, but they were also personal correspondence. Paul was concerned about the Philippians, so he was going to send Timothy to see how they were doing.

Paul knew there was no one better to send than Timothy.

No one was more 'like-minded' than Timothy

Timothy sincerely cared about how the Philippians were doing

Timothy had proven his character

Timothy had served with Paul like a father-son team

But I think part of this is sad. "All seek their own, not the things which are of Jesus Christ.' It is sad that men like Timothy were, and are, so rare.

May God give us the courage and strength and even when it seems like everybody else ‘seeks their own’ we would have the ability to be the Timothy and do something for Christ and for others.