Joy and Peace Through AdversitySample

Caring About Others

Philippians 2:25–26 says: “But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, coworker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill.” 

Paul did not think about his awful situation or how unfair it was that he was in prison. He did not even question why God would allow such injustice in his life. Paul lived with God being his center regardless of his circumstances. His concern was not his life, but the life of the Philippians. The life of others. 

Paul decided to send the only person he had to take him food or help him with any other necessity. This is another dimension of life, reality, and condition. Epaphroditus was also a messenger of the Word of God, which is why Paul sent him to comfort the church of Philippi.

Epaphroditus served Paul but had also been extremely ill, to the point of almost losing his life. Yet, he also did not worry about his illness, since he had learned a way of life relying on Christ. In the midst of circumstances, his concern was the believers in Philippi. Paul and Epaphroditus did not react with reason—at least, not human reasoning. 

Paul did not care to stay with the company and service of Epaphroditus because to him what was more important was comforting the Philippians. Paul told the church through his letters that he knew they had been worried when they heard Epaphroditus was ill. Therefore, Paul was eager to send him back so that they would be glad and he less anxious. 

Epaphroditus was not afflicted by his health, salvation, or anything else, but was distressed by the Philippians because they heard that he was ill. The word “distressed,” in the Greek original is ademoneo, which means anguished or afflicted. On his deathbed, his concern was not his life, but the life of others.