A Good Young Man
Philippians 2:19-24
19But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you
shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. 20For I have no
one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. 21For all seek their
own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. 22But you know his proven
character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel.
23Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me.
24But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly.
Phil. 2:19-24
This letter was from the apostle Paul to the church at Philippi. But this
section is about the young man whose life was devoted to Christ, therefore of
great value to the Christians in Philippi.
Background
Timothy’s name means, “one who honors God.” He was a native of Lystra (Paul and
Barnabas had visited in conjunction with their First Missionary Journey.) It is
very possible that in that visit by gospel preachers to his hometown, Timothy
heard and obeyed the gospel, having been raised to respond to God’s Word by his
mother and grandmother. Paul apparently wanted to help develop this young man
into a faithful Christian and gospel preacher, so Timothy became Paul’s “son in
the faith.” The potential for maturity became a reality as Timothy became a
close, trusted associate of the apostle Paul. And of great importance to
Christians in Ephesus, Philippi, Corinth and other places.
And would you consider, he is left behind in Berea to continue the work after
Paul is forced to leave because of threats against his life (Acts 17:14). During
a time of persecution he is sent to Thessalonica to strengthen the believer in
their faith (1 Thess. 3:1-3). He is sent to Macedonia from Ephesus with a
similar mission (Acts 19:22). He is sent as Paul’s helper to bring teaching and
edification to the troubled church in Corinth (1 Cor. 4:17-21). He is apparently
sent to Philippi and perhaps returns with a monetary gift from that church from
Paul (Phil. 2:19; 4:15-16; Acts 18:5). He is instructed how to appoint elders
and deacons in the churches (1 Tim. 3). He accompanies Paul on his last trip to
Jerusalem (Acts 20:4). He is as close to Paul as he can be, in Paul’s final
days.
One of the great friendships of the Bible and one of the meaningful examples of
how the older can lead the younger and how the younger can comfort the older is
found in this Paul-Timothy model. Let’s study this.
“But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly…”
I believe we need to connect dots here. Paul’s faith in Christ is connected to
his desire to send Timothy. What is that about? When you believe in Christ, your
confidence in Him compels you to rely on others who place their confidence in
Him. Paul is not going to send an unbeliever to the church at Philippi. Working
for Christ; preaching Christ and edifying Christians – of course, when Paul
needs to send someone, he will send a believer in Christ.
But, will he send just any believer? No. Paul’s trust in Christ compelled him to
send one who was equipped for the task, a strong, faithful young man like
Timothy (enabled by Christ as Paul was, see 1 Tim. 1:12). And one result would
be, Paul would be encouraged. Paul would feel better about his brethren, sending
Timothy and then hearing from Timothy about their state.
What a valuable, desirable situation presented to us here. To have good young
men who can be trusted to do their best work, to conduct themselves with
integrity and take up the work of Christ, based on their trust in Him. Not just
blindly imitate the former generation, but dig deep for knowledge, rise above
any party loyalty and just preach the truth and live the truth. We need such men
today in greater numbers, men who are fit for the Master’s use.
How many young men do you know, who want to preach the gospel; who want to use
their time and their lives spreading the truth?
“For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for
your state.”
Have you ever heard the expression, “a dime a dozen!” That means there are many
(of whatever you are talking about), and they are easy to get! The supply is not
exhausted; finding and acquiring is not difficult.
Young men like Timothy, in the first century, were not “a dime a dozen.” They
were hard to find. Fact is, they were so rare Paul said, “I have no one
like-minded,” (NIV: “I have no one else like him!”) You don’t find young men
like Timothy on every corner, in every family, or in every church – not in large
numbers at least. Paul said, “I have no one else like him.” But Paul doesn’t
leave that as a vague statement; he explains that Timothy is the kind of man who
sincerely cares.
It is not original to me but you have heard or read this often: People don’t
care how much you know, until they know how much you care. Now I think Timothy
enjoyed a high level of knowledge. His mother and grandmother taught Him from
the Scriptures. Timothy’s time with Paul, no doubt, involved much study and
learning and maturing in knowledge. But Timothy had something alongside his
knowledge – and that was, sincerity and care for people!
There is nothing as cold as a man with knowledge and skill in imparting
knowledge, but who doesn’t really care about people! That is a fatal flaw in a
gospel preacher. But the damage is present also in any Christian, who is high on
knowledge, but neutral or low in their care for people. Not a good match.
Timothy was a young gospel preacher who knew what he was talking about but also,
cared about who he was talking to! And in this virtue he was imitating the
Master Teacher, Jesus Christ. It can be said of Jesus: He loved the Father; He
loved and knew the Father’s will. But likewise Jesus loved people, and that love
had such maturity and such depth – He suffered and died for people.
Paul was a very caring person, and now Timothy follows that pattern in his
thinking and responding to people and their needs. We must acquire the
knowledge, but also – develop the heart of love and care for people – that will
equip us to reach people and help them, in their journey toward God. And if we
ever just focus on knowledge, and neglect this love and care for people, we will
die spiritually. And, at the core of what we are talking about is – an attitude
of unselfish humility (see Phil. 2:1-5).
“For all seek their own, not the things which
are of Christ Jesus.”
Those who “seek their own” are a dime a dozen. You don’t have to look around too
far to find people who are self-seeking. That’s the attitude of the world, and
has always been the root of sin – self-seeking. Paul’s confidence in Timothy
included his awareness that TIMOTHY WASN’T LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE. He was rare,
because of the activity of his faith in Christ. He was not the kind of man – who
just looks out for his own interests!!
If we could fill churches and families with this unselfish humility, with people
who do not seek their own, we cannot begin to imagine the good we would see to
the glory of God; and the growth that would take off. Timothy was the kind of
person who did not seek his own interests but, the last part of verse 21 says,
“the things which are of Christ Jesus.”
What are those things? What are “the things which are of Christ Jesus,” or in
the NIV: THE INTERESTS OF JESUS CHRIST?
Respecting and glorifying the Creator. Appreciating and being a recipient of His
grace. Learning and obeying His truth. Teaching and helping others toward God.
Rejecting the appeal of the world, by embracing and participating in the things
that are holy and right and eternal.
These things Timothy had on his mind every day, and he was, therefore, motivated
– not to serve himself, but devoted to the interests of Jesus Christ. This is
why Paul sent him.
Phil. 2:22-24
“But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with
me in the gospel. Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it
goes with me. But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly.”
I like that expression as it appears in the NKJ, “proven character.” In the NIV,
“Timothy has proved himself.” Let’s consider that carefully: Knowledge can be
acquired and remembered. Association with good people can be claimed and
documented. Character is proven! It is demonstrated through daily behavior and
as that behavior becomes consistent, it is clear: the person has character.
Character is who you are inside – including thoughts, motives, will, care and
affection. There must be knowledge to form and guide character. But character is
more than just knowledge. It is the personal application of knowledge inside
that shows itself in consistent daily behavior. Paul trusted Timothy because of
his “proven character.”
Each one of us should be involved with God and His Word – with such purpose – we
develop “proven character.” It includes everything observed about Timothy in
this passage: the sincere care, the devotion to Christ and the willingness to be
sent and used in the cause of Christ. “Proven character” should be emerging in
us – a little more every day.
So Paul said to the church at Philippi: Here is the man for the job. Here’s the
preacher I trust.
19But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may
be encouraged when I know your state. 20For I have no one like-minded, who will
sincerely care for your state. 21For all seek their own, not the things which
are of Christ Jesus. 22But you know his proven character, that as a son with his
father he served with me in the gospel. 23Therefore I hope to send him at once,
as soon as I see how it goes with me. 24But I trust in the Lord that I myself
shall also come shortly. Phil. 2:19-24
Reading this text in Philippians about Paul and Timothy; and reading 1,2 Timothy
– there is certainly a host of powerful directions and applications for young
men and for gospel preachers. All preachers should read 1, 2 Timothy over and
over. All who listen to preachers and deal with preachers, should read the story
of Timothy and Paul’s direction to Timothy – repeatedly.
But the story reaches outside those who preach and teach and lead – to all of
us, speaking to us of these traits of character that should be proven and seen
in each of us. And these are things you must work on for a lifetime. Unselfish
humility – leading you to sincerely care for people, and to devote yourself –
not to your own things, but to the things of Christ.
And parents! If you are impressed by Timothy. If you admire how he developed and
you see the value of his proven character . . .
Listen to this – 2 Tim. 3:14-15.
14But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured
of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15and that from childhood you have
known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through
faith which is in Christ Jesus.
You want to raise a Timothy? Start early. Enable them to learn Scripture and be
certain they see Scripture applied in you! Be the mother and grandmother Timothy
had.
If parents, preachers, elders and all other Christians will find young Christian
men and develop them as Paul developed Timothy, the results will be visible,
valuable and pleasing to God.
By Warren E. Berkley
From Expository Files 17.10; October 2010
