The Pulpit Commentary — Philippians — Section 106

and nclivitic~. Self is not only uncrucificd, but in the nscendnnt. Few ecek the "things 0f Jesus Cbriet," such things as truth, benevolenoe, holiness, entire consecralion to the Didnc will. The spirit of usefulness is deT"otion t.o the things of Christ. 3. I11 d<'spatchi11g to them a ma,a. well known to them, dear to him as ~ son and a loving collea,.,11e. "But ye know the proof of him, th&t, RB a aon with the father, he hath ser~cd with me in the gospel." They knew Timotheus. He was with Paul when ho first preached the gospel to them (Act., xvi. 12-14-). And also with Paul when ho ..-isited them, on another occasion, on bis way to Jerusalem. He was with him as a "60fl.," loving and loyal. 'l'hus Paul showed his absorbing interest in them. Why ,;id he think of them at all ? Above all, why did he send Timotheus, a. man eo dear to him, to minist.cr to them? Why did he not keep him with himself, t.o soothe and succour him in his terrible position? It was because he had that spirit of Christian usefulness that absorbed his whole nature in the concerns of others. With his liberty gone, and death before him, he says-I want to "know your state," how you think, feel, purpose, and act in relation to the gospel which I preached unto you-the ;:;lorious gospel of the blessed God, and for this purpose I send Timotheus to you, the most valuable man I know, and the most dear to me. So it is ever; a man imbued with the true genius of spiritual usefnlncss will think more about the moral concerns of others than about himself. Elsewhere we hear our apostle say, "I coul,l wish that I myself were anathema from Christ, for my brethren's sake, my kinsmen according to the flesh: who are Israelites" (New Version). Ah me! Where is this spirit of usefulness now? Where are the men to whom their own personal and worldly interests nre as dross to the welrare of souls ? JI. A SPIRIT OF SETTLED TRUST IN THE WILL OF THE GREAT MASTER. "Him [that is, Timothew; Jtherefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me. But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly." Observe: l. He ims in a state of uncertainty as to kis destiny. He did not know whether be ~i10uld be liberated or martyred. The future of our personal existence is concealed from all, even from ins]>ired men. "We know not what shall be on the morrow." 2. Though in this state of unr,eri;ainty he entertained the hope of visiting them shortly. "I trust . . . I myself shall come shortly." This was natural. It not only implied a deliverance from bis horrible position, but the gratification of renewing old and tender associations. 3. This hope lie entertained in subjection to the Divine will. I do not know my future, but I trust in the Lord. I do hope to visit you "shortly." I should like once more t.o be amongst you; I trust I shall; but my trust is in submission to the Divine will. Herein he acted according to the directions of St. James: "For that ye onght to say, If the Lord will" (Jas. iv. 15). CoNCLUSION. Such is the spirit of Christian usefulness, a spirit that regards the soul-interests of men as supreme, and that makes all hopes and calculations of the future subject to the Divine wilL-D. T. T'e!'S. 25-30.-Troe labourers for Ohrist. "Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus," etc. Epaphroditus, it would seem, had been sent from the Church at Philippi to Paul a.t Rome, with supplies for bis te11;1poral necessities. In the t:xecntion of his commission he had fa.lien sick, and now, haVU1g reached convalescence, he lonaed to return home in order to relieve the anxieties of his friends, who had hearcl of his ~disposition. The text presents to us two genuine, if not model, workers for Curist-men thorouo-bly imbued with the Cbristly spirit, and subject to those trials ,:Lich gene~aliy attt;d in this world the faithful discharge of the gospel mission. In ti...t:m we discover- I. A FEELIKG oF SPIBITUAL EQUALITY. Panl speaks of Epaphroditus as "my i,roti..er," "my companion," or, as in the New Version," my fellow-worker" and "my fdiow-soldier." Whatever difference existed in their natural or acquired abilities, their worldly position and social standing, a seuse of spiritual equnlit}' possessed and ruled tl,em. They were children of the same great Father, labourers in the same groat cause, ouldiers in the sa.me moral campaign-a campaign against the eviL!, physical, intellec- tm,.I., social, ancl mural, that afflict the world. ,vherc is this sense of spiritual equality <11s;,layw 1,uw arnrm~st thooe who profess to be labourers of Christ? What would be t],,,•1~1:n uf 1n, arcbl,i,hu1, wriling a letlcr to 11 Church concerning a primitive local Cl!. tr. 1-30.) 'l'HE EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS. 101