The Best Giving: Yourself

”Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me,” Philippians 2:29-30.

November 14, 2004

One thing is obvious as I continue to preach this Epistle: Paul was blessed with some wonderful people to assist him in ministry. Timothy was a “rare bird” for God. Today we take a look at the life of another brother serving in the ministry with Paul, Epaphroditus. What a name! What a mouthful!

What do you think they called him for short? Now, Epaphras is a shortened form of Epaphroditus. His name means “charming.” I will use the shortened version of his name. One thing is for certain lots of folks loved him dearly and rightly so no matter what they called him. What commands our attention about Epaphras is that he gave of himself to the point of death. He gave and gave. It appears that his whole life was about giving to others. Let’s look at some of the many ways he gave of himself.

1) He wore many hats:

· He was Paul’s brother in the ministry. He was a brother to Paul because of what Christ had done. Christ makes all of us brothers and sisters. Our relationship of brotherhood and sisterhood is a result of Christ shedding his blood and bringing us into a spiritual family. You often hear me say from this pulpit that I am so glad that I am a child of God. This is what I’m talking about. God has made me a brother and a member of a great big spiritual family.

· He was a fellow worker. I just love the term, fellow worker. Brothers and sisters we are indeed blessed to be actively involved in working for the Lord; we are privileged to have fellow workers in the ministry. The blessing is we have brothers and sisters that share the burden of ministry. What does it mean to you to be a fellow worker? Does it really mean something to you and how you work for the Lord? I’m afraid we’ve lost what it means to be a fellow worker. It’s so difficult to find fellow workers to carry on the work of the Lord. This need for fellow workers for our Sunday school and in our youth church is one of the burdens I carry day in and day out. This need is a pressing one for our church. I am requesting your prayers that God will send us fellow workers. I will continue to pray that prayer. I appeal to you from this pulpit today to come forward. You have in your hands a document for you to respond to this opportunity.

o Epaphras was a fellow soldier with Paul who labored to evangelize while he was in chains. This is the job for the church. Let us not forget this. Let us not become lazy in the most important work of the church. Let us not forget that we have been called to do this work. We are to work day and night to present the gospel, the good news about eternal life in Christ Jesus. No job is more critically important than sharing the gospel. Just a few weeks ago I was in Warren Oh knocking on doors and telling strangers that in Christ Jesus there is eternal life that is free; it’s a gift-no strings attached. I was absolutely impressed with the work many of God’s people were doing there in Warren to share the gospel. They were hard at work in the evenings for the Lord. I pray that the day will come when we too here in Berea will be fellow workers in telling others that there is eternal life in Jesus Christ if they put their trust in him.

· He was a fellow soldier. If you were just returning from Iraq, you could preach this part of my sermon better than I. You would be able to tell us in very graphic words the value of having a fellow soldier on the battle field. Paul undoubtedly had been in fox holes or in situations like fox holes with Epaphras to recognize him as a fellow soldier. Clearly he was not one of Paul’s companions who turned back while Paul was in the eye of a storm of anger from the Jews. I don’t believe Paul would use this word fellow soldier lightly.

· He was a messenger. He was an important messenger. It is believed that he served in a leadership position in the church at Philippi. He was highly thought of by the church. This is evident in his being chosen to carry the church’s gift for Paul to him. He not only agreed to take the gift from the Church at Philippi to Paul, but he also agreed to become a servant to Paul. He devoted his life to serving in the ministry of Christ and caring for Paul. We often talk about how many people in the church wear lots of hats. Epaphras certainly wore hats galore in the ministry of Christ Jesus. Let’s allow the exemplary life of Epaphras wearing many hats strengthen us in as we wear many hats in ministry of the Lord.

2) He gave his life in ministry and to Paul up to the very point of death. Paul describes how ill Epaphras became while with him. Paul says he not only was ill, but he almost died. Paul gives two reasons he almost died. One was for the work of Christ. The other was to do what the church had sent him to do and that was to care for the needs of Paul. Paul was clear about Epaphras commitment. He risked his life to make up for the help the church at Philippi was unable to give him while in prison in Rome. Here was a man of God who was absolutely committed to carrying to completion what his church sent him to Rome to do for Paul. He was so committed to carrying out this assignment that he was distressed when he learned that the folks back in Philippi had learned of his being ill. It seems that it troubled him for the church folks to even imagine that he was unable to do the job he had gone to do for Paul in prison in Rome.

a. I think the life of Epaphras giving his self for Christ and for Paul’s needs is an example worthy to share with all. His unselfishness in living his life teaches us an important lesson for our lives and for the lives of others. Last Sunday evening I sat on a panel at Baldwin Wallace College to address a group of students about a number of subjects of interest to them. Toward the end of the session the professor asked each of us on the panel to share one thing that would be important for students for the future. Lots of things were shared. I encouraged students to give of themselves to benefit and help others in our world. Is there any mother, father, or grandparent that would not like to have a child of theirs to turn out like Epaphras? I don’t think there is. He would make any parent happy; he lived a full life as he gave to Christ, his church family at Philippi, and to Paul.

b. As I reflect back on my life the people that have had the greatest impact on me and my growth as a person have been those that gave to me of themselves. And I thankful to God that I can remember lots of them that took time with me and gave of themselves for my benefit and growth.

c. If you want to read again and again testimonies of people have been blessed by people that gave of themselves read introductions to books written, read biographies, and read life stories of the decease in the Cleveland Plain Dealer.