"Preacher's Text"

A look at Philippians 2:19-21

DAVID R. MANZANO, Pastor, Florida Conference

PAUL as an administrator had to find a worker who would strengthen the church at Philippi, and he chose Timothy for the task.

Notice what he said about the man he was sending, Timothy "will naturally care for your state." He has a compassion and care for others that leads him to minister unselfishly to the church.

Paul referred to the fact that there were men he would not entrust with this work, men who "seek their own [things], not the things which are Jesus Christ's."

As ministers we might ask ourselves, "What would Paul say about me? Would he be able to put me with Timothy, or would he have to class me with the others?"

Is it possible that in much of our min­istry we might be seeking our own reputa­tion, our own advancement, or our own material advantage, rather than Christ's?

Isn't it tragic that Paul had to say, "I have no man likeminded," he is the only one I know of, I could use a dozen men like Timothy but they cannot be found?

Why could Paul say of Timothy, He "will naturally care for your state"? Is it natural to care for others?

"Timothy . . . appreciated the sacredness of the work of a minister."—Acts of the Apostle, p. 203.

"The Word of God was the rule which guided Timothy."—The SDA Bible Com­mentary, Ellen G. White Comments, on 2 Tim. 3:14, 15, p. 918.

And "his knowledge of experimental pi­ety distinguished him from other believ­ers."—The Acts of the Apostles, p. 205.

Timothy loved Christ and he loved Scrip­ture, and his life had been changed so that he "will naturally care for your state."

"The completeness of Christian charac­ter is attained when the impulse to help and bless others springs constantly from within."—Christ's Object Lessons, p. 384.

This is the ministry we are called to give, to be filled with that love that seeks not its own, but Christ's. By the grace of God may we be written in heaven's record as Timothy has been written.


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DAVID R. MANZANO, Pastor, Florida Conference

October 1967

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