May 4 – Philippians 2:19-22, 25-30; 4:15-19 – Appreciate   Philippians 2:19 – Paul commended Timothy with his unselfish, proven character, through whom, as he returned back, Paul would know more about his friends in Phillipi. At bottom, what is life but relationships? People need people. God uses people to minister to people. It is our relationships with other people that make up what life is all about. 2:20 – Paul and Timothy were Christian "soul-mates" [the meaning of ‘like-minded’]. Timothy had begun to catch on and practice what Paul would later exhort him in 2 Timothy 2:2, "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these things to faithful men who will be sufficiently able to teach others also." 2:21 – Selflessness is a hallmark of our Christian faith. 2:22 – "Timothy" [Timotheos] means "honoring God" and that he was to God and Paul who very much appreciated him and so commended this appreciation of him to the Philippian believers. 2:23-24 – Paul understood the importance of "ministry-multiplication" – as in 2 Tim. 2:2. 2:25 – Epaphroditus carried this little to the Philippians. He was a dedicated and sensitive worker…fellow soldier of Paul’s. The word, "messenger," is the Greek word for apostle here. 2:26-27 – Apparently he was seriously ill, and word had gotten back to Philippi about him. But God spared him and brought back to health. 2:28-30 – Paul very much appreciated Epaphroditus and hoped that the Philippians would also. The expression, "not regarding his life" in verse 30 meant careless with his soul…showed disregard for his soul…he was more concerned for others than he was for himself.   4:15 – When Paul left Macedonia (where Philippi was located) in Acts 16, only the Philippian Christians were supporting him. He explained this to the church in Corinth in 2 Cor. 8:9-15. The terms, "giving" and "receiving," here are accounting terms of the day for debit and credit. 4:16 – In Acts 17:1-9 they helped Paul in Thessalonica. 4:17 – The help for Paul was needed and appreciated, but he was more concerned how God would honor "their account" of this in heaven. That was Paul’s heart in the matter. They were investing in their heavenly account. Here again Paul was using some bookkeeping terms of his day concerning an "account" and "fruit" meaning interest. God like to keep His money in circulation on earth through His children and to keep accounts in heaven regarding those saved on earth!! In a sense, Paul and the Philippians had a "joint account" in heaven. They attitude toward money could be described in the old hymn, "This world is not my home I'm just passing through; my treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue; the angels beckon me from Heaven's open door, and I can't feel at home in this world anymore." This was the point that Paul was making in Phil. 3:20, "For our citizenship is in heave, from which we also eagerly anticipate a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." 4:18 – Epaphoditus had come to Rome with some support from Paul who then had sent him back with this "Thank you" Epistle. He may have been Paul’s amanuensis, as some late Greek manuscripts have the subscription, "Written to the Philippians from Rome through Epaphroditus." The sacrifice of giving is like a sweet fragrance to God. Note Hebrews 6:10 – "For God is not unrighteous, as to forget your work and love which [love] you have displayed toward his name, [after] serving the saints and [still] serving." 4:19 – "And my God will fulfill your every need according to His wealth in glory IN Christ Jesus." Provision brings perseverance. Sometimes our use of credit during a need may buffer us from God’s real source of supply and provision for us.   Questions to Consider: What relationships in your circle of Christian friends have you found very special? What are ways that we can organize our ministries, as did Paul? How important is "proven character" to you and me and in others? How is the imagery of "fellow soldier" describing our Christian fellowship and ministry? How important is a godly reputation among others? How involved and careful are you in support of various ministries inside and outside of your church? How does giving here on earth become fruitful in heaven?