Title: Life for Others / Philippians 2
His exhortation to the Philippian church members, whom the Apostle Paul loved the most, longed for, rejoiced and boasted about (Philippians 4:1) was to live a "life for others", "thinking others better than yourself." It was to live a "life for others" by taking care of other people's work rather than just looking at their own work.
1 “Each one considers others better than himself” (1-18)
Why do believers have to live for others? Because Jesus Christ lived a life of devotion and sacrifice for others, that is, for us. Although he was like God, he gave up everything for us, that is, emptied himself, appeared in human form as a servant, humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death (6-8). Paul went on to exhort the Philippian church members to always be submissive and not to complain or argue ((12-14). “A humble life for others.” We appear as lights in the world when we live “a life of humility and sacrifice for others” (15).
2 “I hope I send Timothy to you soon” (19-24)
The apostle Paul wanted Timothy to be sent to them as soon as possible for the Philippian church members. There were several ministers, but Timothy was the only person who would sincerely consider the circumstances of the saints without considering his own circumstances, and Timothy was the only person who could seek the work of the saints without seeking his own. Timothy was originally a man admired by people. “Timothy is praised by the brethren in Lystra and Iconium” (Acts 16:2). Timothy did not seek his own work, but sought the work of Jesus and the saints, and worked hard, but he was a true and faithful worker who lived a “life for others” that he labored like a son did to his father (1 Corinthians 4:17).
3 “I think it is necessary to send Epaphroditus to you” (25-30)
The apostle Paul also wanted to return Epaphroditus to the Philippian church. Because Epaphroditus also lived not for himself, but for others, for the Lord, for the apostle Paul, for the church. Epaphroditus was a man who traveled a long way on behalf of the Philippian church members, came to a Roman prison, delivered the gift of love from the Philippian church members to Paul, stayed with Paul in prison and served Paul, and fell ill. “When he came to die for the service of Christ, he did not regard his own life, so that the lack of your work in serving me might be met” (30). Like Jesus, like Paul, like Timothy, like Epaphroditus, like Andrew, we want to be able to value others and live for others. "Like the sun during the day..."