Paul the apostle desired to
know the state of the church located in Philippi. Although he heard a
report of their condition from their pastor, Epaphrus, he desired to
know first hand how they were doing. He sent Timothy his young
protege' for the task, and he declared to the Philippians that there
was no one likeminded as Timothy to do the job. In Philippians
chapter two and verse twenty-one Paul gave the reason that others
were disqualified where he wrote:
For all seek their own,
not the things which are Jesus Christ's.
The
verse begins, “For all seek their own,...” Paul
begins this verse with the word “for” which means “because or
since”. The reason the others were ruled out was because “all
seek their own” or “look
after or attend to himself, herself, itself, themselves”. In
other words they paid more attention to themselves than others.
Timothy was more concerned for how others were doing in their lives
rather than his own. This made him qualified to know their state
according to Paul.
The
verse goes on to say, “not the things which are Jesus Christ's.”
In addition to seeking their own selves rather than others, these
of whom Paul speaks are not seeking “the things which are Jesus
Christ's”. They are so focused upon their own lives that they
have no time for the things which are Jesus'. Since Timothy was
likeminded with Paul, he was about the things of Jesus, and this made
him fit to know the state of the Philippian church.
If we
were to be examined for our attentiveness to “things” in
our lives, would others find us about the “things” of
ourselves or the “things which are Jesus Christ's”? We
have to admire this trait found within young Timothy, however we are
most likely challenged by it as well. We have to wonder, would we
have been found as faithful as Timothy, or would we have been about
our “own” as the others Paul had in mind? As we think on these
things, may the Lord help us know when we tilt the scales of care for
“things” away from those which have His concern and
towards only the “things” of our own.
Next
time Paul tells the Philippians that
Timothy is like his son,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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