Called to Serve

“I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state” (Philippians 2:19).

Here was Paul sitting in a jail cell in Rome, not thinking of his own comfort or his difficult situation. He was concerned only about the spiritual and physical condition of his people and he told them, “My comfort will come only when I know you are doing well — in spirit and in body. So I’m sending Timothy to check up on you on my behalf.”

Then Paul made an alarming statement: “For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state” (2:20). How sad! As Paul wrote this, the church in Rome was growing and being blessed. Clearly, there were godly leaders in the Roman church but Paul said he had no man who shared with him the mind of Christ. Why was this so?

“For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus” (2:21). Evidently, not one leader in Rome had a servant’s heart; not one had cast aside reputation and become a living sacrifice. Instead, everyone was set on pursuing his own interests. None had the mind of Christ and Paul could not trust anyone to go to Philippi to be a true servant to that body of believers.

As we look around the Church today, we see the same things going on in many congregations. Ministers and parishioners, alike, are going after the things of this world: money, reputation, materialism, success.

Paul’s words here cannot be softened: Everybody is out for himself. The ministers seek only to benefit themselves, so that is why there is nobody I can trust to care for your needs and hurts — except Timothy.”

Friends, we are called to serve the Church of Jesus Christ and, like Timothy, we must have a mindset of sacrifice, love and concern for others.