Timothy and Paul had a special relationship. They were unrelated, and yet they were brothers. They were unrelated, and yet they had the same Father. They were unrelated, and yet one was like a father to the other. They were of very different temperments, and yet they were of the same heart.
Paul may have known Timothy earlier, but they really met on this second journey to Lystra and Derbe. The younger man’s mother Eunice was already a believer, but his father was a Greek. She had most likely been converted to Christ through Paul’s first ministry in the area. Even before her salvation, she had raised her son in the Jewish scriptures. In some ways he had received the best education possible in his day. Timothy, too, seems to have been converted on Paul’s first visit to the area, but he was just a boy. Paul had nearly been stoned to death, but the Lord miraculously revived him. To see a man, many thought to be dead, walking around and preaching Christ, made a few people listen. Apparently the teenager Timothy was one of those smitten by the Holy Spirit. But it seems that Paul wasn’t especially impressed with the young man at the time. Perhaps he didn’t even know what fruit had grown from the seed which he planted and watered with his blood. But on his second visit to the area, Timothy was already a disciple highly esteemed by other Christians. And it was at that time that the Apostle began to call the young man his “son in the faith.” Timothy went with Paul to Philippi, and then on to Thessalonica and Berea. Once in a while, Timothy went on ahead of Paul, preaching the gospel and getting things ready for him. When Paul was sailing towards Jerusalem for the last time, Timothy was with him. And it appears that he voluntarily went with him all the way to Rome. We find young Timotheus, or Timothy, sharing Paul’s captivity there. He’s mentioned as a “fellow prisoner” in several of Paul’s epistles.
References to Timotheus indicate that he had a very sweet, good, pure and gracious spirit. But he wasn’t very tough, or decisive. He was full of sympathy, unselfishness, self-sacrifice and consecrated love to Christ. But he appears to have often been sick, and he was not unfamiliar with tears. Like Joshua, he needed to be roused to “stir up the gift of God” in him, and to be not ashamed of either his youth or his Christ.
Apparently the bond between these two men was very close, and Paul loved to have Timothy nearby. But now he was going to send his favorite companion to visit one of his favorite churches. These verses express that intention and give us a glimpse into the Apostle’s thoughts and feelings.
First, lets consider Paul’s hope.
Once again, he points out the uncertainty of his future. In Philippians 1:25 he says that he expects to be released and to begin preaching once again. But then he uttered a few words which suggest that he faced the possibility of martyrdom. Here he acknowledges the uncertainty, but still “trusts” that he will be set at liberty once again. So Paul was at the mercy of Nero — a vacillating, volatile lunatic. But Paul did what he could to stay busy. He was constantly evangelizing the rotating guards who kept him. And there were letters to be written to his churches and friends. And there were occasional visitors to evangelize or to encourage. One thing to notice is that Paul speaks very calmly of his uncertain future. “As soon as I shall see how it will go with me” means as soon as I know what’s happening. “If I hear of anything, I’ll be sure to send Timothy with a message for you.” How many of us look toward the future with any sort of confidence? Wasn’t that the theme of the message last Sunday evening. How many of us can leave until tomorrow the problems of tomorrow? Don’t we just love to gather them to our hearts today? “I’ve had this heaviness over my heart lately, surely I must be gearing up for a massive heart attack.”
Isn’t it beautiful to see how the Apostle yearns for these Phillipians, and how he longs for news from them? He is sure that if he hears anything it will be good news. Some people are like that – optimistic. In this case it was because he was sure of the character of the people involved. This love and confidence which Paul had for them, acted like a catalyst for both of them. Paul hadn’t been just another preacher to those people, but rather like a father to everyone of them. He had a love and a sympathy for them – which they knew existed. And part of that love is expressed in his willingness to deprive himself of Timothy for their benefit. He had given up the comforts of a stable home, to first take the gospel to them. He had spent his own inheritance and worked with his hands to support himself for their evangelism. He was willing to go to prison just for the opportunity to leave the door open to others.
What would you be willing to give up in order to be a blessing to someone? Your personal safety? Your money? Your extremely rare and valuable time?
Paul not only had a hope for a ministry, but he took whatever opportunity he could to develop his ministry.
The church in Philippi was a good one, but like with a spell of hot weather, the grass was turning a little brown. Every church gets listless, lethargic, a bit legalistic, and needs reviving from time to time. Paul wanted to strengthen those good people, but his hands were tied – or more correctly his feet were chained. At times while Paul was in Rome he was surrounded by good helpers. There were Tychicus, Onesimus, Aristarchus, Markus, Epaphras and Lucas. But most of them were away on other errands or personal business. For whatever reason Paul was basically alone – with the exception of Timothy. Yet he was willing to add loneliness to his sufferings in order to strengthen the Philippians. Why is it that often the more sympathy and sacrifice someone gives to others, the less human sympathy and support they receive? A case in point would have to be the Lord Jesus. Undoubtedly there has never been a man more concerned for others than our Saviour. And at the same time there has never been one more forsaken and alone. But the Lord, knowing that to be true, becomes the companion who never leaves us nor forsakes us.
Paul longed to have more like-minded people by his side. But it wasn’t just so he could enjoy their company. It was so that he could send them off like arms from his own body, to do the work which he couldn’t do. Notice that Paul was looking for men whose hearts matched his, in love for the things of Christ. “For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.” There have been people in my life who’ve come and gone from time to time. For example, there been members of church’s I’ve pastored who for one reason or other left the church. Now, that someone should leave is something that I can understand. But when those people want to remain close friends while ignoring or apparently hating our church is something that I can’t understand. Some want to socialize with me, but not worship with me. Why are they willing to play with me, but not to pray with me? This is something which I just can’t understand or accept very long. I get along better with some heathen better than I do with professing Christians like Demas, who, having loved the world departed from the church and people that I serve. And here was Paul in a Roman prison house for his service of Christ and some of his former friends were forsaking him, because they were seeking their own and not the things which were Jesus’.
Nothing should draw us together better than our mutual love of the Lord.
But there was Timothy and there was great joy in his loving service.
Paul said that like a loving child, he had been ministering to the infirmities of the Apostle. But that service was not only toward Paul, but with Paul for the Lord. “But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.” Timothy wasn’t helping Paul to become, or remain, successful or famous. Timothy was helping Paul in the ministry.
Imagine a church where the bond between the members is wonderfully sweet. There is never a quarrel between them, and they are constantly found in each other’s homes. They share meals together, laughing together and crying together. Several have gardens from which they share with one another. One raises beef, another raises chickens and a third raises pigs and they distributed to one another. There is almost a communal-type atmosphere between the long time members of that church. But Paul would not be happy with them, until there was a unity in the gospel as well as in fellowship. Two horses in a field might have fellowship between themselves. But they aren’t much good to anybody unless they are pulling a plow or a wagon together.
We need to remember that in the field of Christian service, there is room for all kinds of workers. Paul often called Timothy his “fellow-laborer” saying that worked the work of the Lord as I also do. But they were vastly different men in age, talents and experience. Yet Timothy was involved in the ministry, and that made him dear to Paul.
Nothing will draw the members of a church together more than greater love and service to Christ. We should be content with nothing less than that.