Philippians 2:19 – 24 Timothy a Model of Selfless Service

The church is saved by the service of a sacrificial Savior; and the church flourishes and
grows by the service of sacrificial saints. When we love one another in the way we have
been loved by Christ; when we serve one another in the way in which we have been served
the church will be healthy and effective. This is the basic principle that Paul has been
pushing throughout this book. Selfishness has gotten hold of the Philippians church and is
causing damage, self-preservation in the face of persecutions; and self-interest towards the
saints. Paul has called the Philippians to walk worthy of the gospel that has saved them,
and this means dying to self and living the crucified life in the same manner our Savior did.
In particular Paul has been dealing with the matter of selfless humble service and using
Christ as the ultimate example. But Paul also multiplies the examples of selfless service
using himself as an object lesson, and now in the verses we want to consider Timothy, v19-
24; and Epaphroditus, v25-30. V19-24, ‘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.
22
But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has
served with me in the gospel.
23
I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it
will go with me,
24
and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.’