“Welcome him [Epaphroditus] in the Lord’s love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve. For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away.”  ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:29-30‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Are there any people in your life that you can point to and say, “i want to be like that!” Someone that you can confidently lift up as an example? Someone you would describe as a person of honor?

I am grateful to say that I know quite a few. As I think about that question, there are faces that I see in my mind’s eye. I see their smiles. I hear their voices in my head. Some have passed away, but others are still living. As my memory recaptures that person, I remember their character more than any one task they have accomplished. They exemplify honor in their speech, in their attitudes, in their actions. Sometimes it can be hard to quantify what makes a person of honor. You just know this is someone worth emulating. 

In Paul’s letter to his friends in Philippi he describes someone who can definitely be lifted up as a person of honor, but because Paul only spends a few sentences on him it can be easy to miss the importance of his example. Who am I referring to? Epaphroditus. 

I’ll be that is one of those names you just skip over when you are reading! But don’t skip over him! Paul says that people like him should be welcomed and honored. Why? What makes Epaphroditus an example worth following? How can you and I follow his example? 

Be trustworthy.  Epaphroditus was entrusted with a gift for Paul from the Philippians. That’s why he was with Paul in the first place. He was the person that this group of believers chose to carry a monetary gift from Philippi to Rome. Not a walk around the block! They trusted him to deliver the gift completely and in a timely manner. They knew that Paul was in need. Those in prison depended on their care from friends outside, unlike today’s prisons where all needs are met within the system. 

How trustworthy are you, my friend? Are you someone who follows through on your word or do you drift when distracted? I’ll tell you this has been a struggle for me. I always mean to keep my word, but sometimes my affirmative response is greater than my ability to follow through. I try to do too much, or I am just afraid to say no. When I have not given a careful “yes”, then I have often fallen short on my follow-through. I hate that! I have become more careful in what I commit to so that my “yes” is completed. Epaphroditus was one of those who did what he said he would do. I want to be like that!

Be faithful.  He was known, not only as someone who could be trusted, but as someone who could be depended on. Paul knew it. The Philippians knew it. Not only could he be trusted to carry the gift, he could be depended on to complete the task and do whatever he had been asked to do. He was known as someone who would give his all and do all that was necessary to complete the task. No half-hearted efforts. No doing things with a bad attitude. A task to be tackled? Here’s your man!

I want to be a person like that. I don’t want to just show up in body, but be absolutely, fully present to the task at hand. I want to give all that I have to, not only get the job done, but do it with excellence, passion and joy. 

What prevents me or you from being faithful? Why do we sometimes lack commitment? A faithful person is willing to do something as directed and to use creativity when necessary to accomplish the task. A faithful person brings their whole self to the task for the sake of the one being served. What keeps us from being faithful? Can I say…selfishness? Often we are not faithful because we want to be doing something else and doing it our own way. 

Epaphroditus showed up and followed through with faithfulness. That’s my goal. How about you?

Be fully committed.  If we think of Paul as a full-time missionary and his close coworker, Timothy, as a missionary associate learning from the full-time missionary, then we could consider Epaphroditus as a short-term missionary. He was someone taking a trip to do mission work, but it wasn’t his full-time job. He would return to his normal activities after the trip. Even though he was only there for the short term, Paul considered Epaphroditus as a full partner in the work he was doing; the work of the Gospel. He valued his work because, though not full time, he was fully committed. 

I have been on short-term mission trips, maybe you have as well. When you and I participate in a short term mission trip, it is easy to think of ourselves as visitors and guests, which we are, because we are only there temporarily. But we sometimes minimize the value of the work we are there to do. Paul saw his friend as a full partner, fully committed and completely valued. He recognized the risk that Epaphroditus had made in taking a break from “normal” to assist him, to make the trip and to serve him. He saw that risk as praiseworthy and deemed honor due to people like that. 

There is always risk involved in any mission work, full-time or short term, domestic or on foreign soil. That is why many people don’t get involved. There is a cost involved, not just financial, but of time and resources.

Before I took my first ever mission trip to Burkina Faso, West Africa, I had to get at least five different vaccinations. Yuk! Why was it necessary? Because disease is a risk in traveling to another country. One of our team members shared that the first time she had traveled to Burkina Faso she had decided not to get the rubella booster shot, and, as a result, had come home with rubella. That sold me! I got the booster! There are risks that can be avoided by preparation, but eliminating all perils is impossible. 

Risk is inherent in serving of any kind. Serving Christ involves risk. That is all there is to it. Epaphroditus recognized the risk and was willing to take it for the sake of partnering with Paul in the work of the Gospel. It almost cost him his life, but I think that he would say that it was worth it. He was fully committed even if it cost him everything. Paul recognized that and honored him for it. 

The Gospel is worth every risk you and I might take for the sake of partnering in fulfilling the Great Commission and telling as many people as we can about Jesus. Your risk might not involve travel right now, but it might involve discomfort or rejection. Just remember, when you take the risk you are partnering with full-time workers, around the world and in your own community, to advance the Greatest Message for the King above all Kings. Isn’t that worth full commitment?

The next time you read Paul’s letter to the Philippians don’t skip over our friend, Epaphroditus! He not only sets the bar high for partners in the Gospel who are not professional ministers, but is an example worth following for all believers: A person of honor who is trustworthy, faithful and fully committed.

I want to be like that! Are you with me?

Key Thought: A person of honor gives all that they have to not only get the job done, but do it with excellence, passion and joy. 

A Scripture to Consider: “Welcome him [Epaphroditus] in the Lord’s love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve. For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away.”  ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:29-30‬ ‭NLT‬‬

A YES Challenge: As you think about Epaphroditus, what impresses you about his character? What character quality would you most like to develop in yourself? Decide how you will apply that to a task this week. 

Prayer: Father, there are times when I lack the qualities of a person of honor. I want to be found trustworthy and faithful. I want to give myself fully as a partner in the work of the Gospel. I believe that You want me, and every believer, to be participants, not just watching from the sidelines. Give me the grace I need to be more like Epaphroditus. I want to be a person of honor. Amen.