Have you ever heard a sermon on Epaphroditus? Probably not.

He is an unsung hero. He hails from Philippi. Paul calls him his “brother, fellow worker”, and “fellow soldier.” He sets him alongside Timothy as a role model of self-denial and sacrificial service.

Epaphroditus is a fighter. The church sent him to minister to Paul in prison. Somewhere along the way he fell critically ill. But he would not be deterred from his errand.

Gift in hand, he perseveres to the brink of death. When the Philippians hear about this, he takes no pity on himself, but becomes distressed with longing for them. But still, he does not turn back or give up until Paul’s needs are fully supplied.

Mission accomplished? Not yet.

Epaphroditus is the lifeline between Paul and the Philippian Church. On this visit, we assume, he informs Paul about the situation there.

Not all is well with their souls. Relationships are strained. Leaders are quarrelling. Church unity is fractured. They urgently need Paul’s tender loving care and apostolic counsel.

He who said, “be anxious for nothing” is genuinely anxious for this church (Philippians 2:17). But this is a different kind of anxiety. One that is deeply rooted in Paul’s God-given responsibility for the well-being of “all the churches” under his care (2 Corinthians 11:28).

Paul rolls up his sleeves: “I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus.” In the Greek text, this carries a sense of urgency bordering on distress.

Despite his own need of Epaphroditus’ care, Paul sends him back with a cure for all that ails the church he loves – the letter that is before us. A labour of love that more than reciprocates the readers for their kindness to him.

What if Epaphroditus had died on his errand? That would have been gain for him. But a grievous loss for Paul, the Philippians, and us.

Thank God he lived. Others were not so fortunate.

In a remote part of the Egyptian desert, an old hermit fell ill. On hearing this, a Desert Father some 30 kilometres away sent the sick man a bunch of figs by the hands of two young disciples. They were boys in age but men in character. They got lost in a fog along the way.

Days later they were found dead in a praying position with the figs untouched. For the sake of a brother in need, they chose to starve rather than abandon their sacred trust.

Had they eaten the figs, they may have survived and found the sick brother. But they would have been empty-handed.

To live is Christ. To die is gain. The door to life opens behind us when we give ourselves to our duty, even if we die trying to fulfil it. Epaphroditus would agree. Do you?

Pray Now

1 Epaphraditus was no softie. Nothing could deter him from his duty. He risked his life to fulfil his mission. He persevered to the end in spite of a nearly fatal illness. And then he went the second mile for Paul and his home church. Do you share his qualities? Have you met with difficulties on your sacred errand? Are you losing heart? Tempted to turn back halfway? Take inspiration from Epaphroditus and those two desert disciples. Pray for strength and stamina to persevere to the end – no matter what.

2 Epaphroditus was no attention seeker. Given a choice, he would have kept his illness a secret from his home church to spare them even the slightest anxiety. Their peace of mind and Paul’s needs were his overriding concerns, far outweighing his own. Do we share his qualities? Or do we broadcast our woes and vie for attention over the slightest discomfort? Pray: Lord, change our hearts. Grant us a deep desire to conform our lives to the standards You have set for us in Philippians: The self-emptying Christ. The self-effacing Epaphroditus. The self-denying Timothy. The self-renouncing Paul.

3 Paul was no hireling. If Timothy was “genuinely concerned” for the welfare of the Philippi Church, Paul was doubly concerned for “all the churches” under his care (2 Corinthians 11:28). Pray for pastors in Singapore. What are the top issues bugging them today? Findings from surveys by Barna and Lifeway (listed below) reflect challenges close to home. The problems here are generally the same, the difference is only by degree. Ask God to open our eyes, break our hearts, and stir our wills until we become “anxious” enough to address the issues together now – before it’s too late:

• Reaching a younger generation
• Declining or inconsistent outreach and evangelism
• Declining or inconsistent volunteering
• Declining interest in matters of faith
• Declining church attendance
• Lack of discipleship
• Lack of leadership training and development
• Biblical illiteracy
• Stagnating spiritual growth

4 Be the unseen warrior, the unsung hero. Make this your Epaphroditus labour of love: I will not be silent. I will not quit praying until _______.